Observations on PCBs and mercury in common loons (Gavia immer) collected from southwestern Lake Michigan.
The death of common loons (Gavia immer) was associated with a small spill of bunker-C oil off the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. Petroleum oil was not found on the feathers or in the lungs of the birds. Botulinus toxins C and E were found in heart blood. Because the carcasses were autolysed, botulism toxins could have been produced postmortem. An average of 97 micrograms PCBs (Aroclor 1254 standard) and 2.2 micrograms dieldrin/g of body fat also were found. Concentrations of heavy metals in one bird were 0.25 microgram of total mercury and 0.5 microgram of lead/g of liver, respectively. The loons had abundant body fat suggesting they were not debilitated at the time of death.
Coppock
R W
RW
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana.
Ross
S
S
Reynolds
J D
JD
Somers
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001717:Birds; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008824:Michigan; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010578:Petroleum; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D008628:Mercury