Residues of chlorinated biphenyl congeners and pesticides in brain and liver of the oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegis) in relation to age, sex and biotransformation capacity.
Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in brain and liver oystercatchers, Haematopus ostralegis, increased similarly in males and females until sexual maturation. The concentrations were higher in adult males than in subadults, but for females the concentrations were lower in adults than in subadults. Absolute PCB, dieldrin and DDE concentrations were higher in liver than in brain. Compared with these compounds, alpha-HCH was relatively enriched in brain. No significant relation between pesticide concentrations and age or sex could be established. Despite differences in absolute PCB concentrations, the PCB patterns were very similar between all categories of birds and between brain and liver of the same animals. Only in the brain of juvenile males were some congeners present in relatively higher concentrations than in the brain of subadults and adults. Oystercatchers are able to metabolize CB congeners with vicinal H-atoms in the meta and para positions irrespective of the number of ortho-chlorines present. However, their ability to metabolize congeners with vicinal H-atoms in the ortho and meta positions is limited.
Everaarts
J M
JM
Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel.
De Buck
A
A
Hillebrand
M T
MT
Boon
J P
JP
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010125:Ostreidae; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D010573:Pesticide Residues; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls