title: Toxicity of white phosphorus to waterfowl: acute exposure in mallards.
abstract: As part of an effort to understand extensive, white phosphorus (P4)-induced waterfowl mortality at Eagle River Flats, Fort Richardson, Alaska (USA), we conducted a number of acute toxicity tests using penned mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in 1993 and 1994. The 24-hr median lethal dose (LD50) for P4 dissolved in oil was 6.46 mg/kg in adult males and 6.96 mg/kg in adult females. Although the median lethal doses were not statistically different, the female dose-response curve had a statistically shallower slope than that of males. The LD50 for the ecologically more relevant pelletized form of P4 in adult males was 4.05 mg/kg. In mallards, one mechanism of P4 toxicity caused rapid (3 to 10 hr) mortality and had signs consistent with anoxia. A second, slower acting mechanism resulted in hepatic and renal pathology including extensive fat deposition in the liver and cellular necrosis. White phosphorus accumulated in adipose tissues, but only for a few days.
authors.affiliation: National Biological Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sparling
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karouna-Renier
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004372:Ducks; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus