title: Organochlorine pesticide contamination in grassland-nesting passerines that breed in North America.
abstract: Organochlorine pesticides and metabolites were measured in grassland-nesting passerines that breed in North America. We also examined testes of male birds for abnormalities that may have resulted from pesticide exposure. Forty-four of 99 individuals contained one or more organochlorine pesticides above the detection limit, representing nine of 10 species. The most prevalent compound detected was p,p'-DDE (minimum-maximum levels: 7.55-285.85 ng/g, carcass concentration). Insectivorous birds had significantly higher levels of p,p'-DDE than both omnivores and granivores. Birds that frequented moist grassland habitats had significantly higher levels of p,p'-DDE than those that frequented drier grassland habitats. No evidence of feminization was observed in any of the testes analyzed, however, other endpoint effects of contamination (e.g. hormone levels and immunological parameters) should be investigated in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal 61790, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bartuszevige
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Capparella
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Criley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erhart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D009656:North America; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D012098:Reproduction; D020308:Songbirds
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene