title: Impact of local agricultural and industrial practices on organic contamination of little egret (Egretta garzetta) eggs in the Rhone Delta, southern France.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of the effects of local agricultural and industrial activities on the contamination of little egret eggs laid in the Camargue area, a protected wetland area in the Mediterranean region. Despite the fact that human activity is widespread in the Camargue, concentrations of lindane (0.01-0.7 microg/g wet wt) and of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (<0.5 microg/g wet wt) do not seem to be deleterious-at least for herons. Residues of dichlorodiethyltrichlorethylene (DDE) were usually below 1 microg/g wet weight. The principal threat comes from high concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; 0.1-12 microg/g wet wt), which are known to have teratogenic effects in other bird species at similar concentrations and are thought to originate locally (sediments of the delta and industrial complex of Fos/Mer). For this reason, particular interest should be focused on the water/sediment quality of the Rhĵne River (France), on industrial sewage, and on wildlife contamination. A significant but weak link between colony site and lindane concentration was detected in eggs and may be attributed to the fact that our egg collection from each sampled colony was not synchronized with pesticide spread. A stronger site effect was observed for PCBs. Eggs collected near the industrial complex of Fos/Mer (petroleum, power plants) displayed the highest median concentration and the most contaminated eggs. Such results warrant thorough monitoring of this colony.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Laboratory ENVL, Marcy L'Etoile, France. p.berny@vet-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berny
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadoul
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dol
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Videman
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kayser
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hafner
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001717:Birds; D004531:Eggs; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007221:Industry; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012722:Sewage; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls