title: Elemental and organochlorine residues in bald eagles from Adak Island, Alaska.
abstract: Adak Island is a remote island in the Aleutian Island archipelago of Alaska (USA) and home to various military activities since World War II. To assess the contaminant burden of one of Adak Island's top predators, livers and kidneys were collected from 26 bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) carcasses between 1993 and 1998 for elemental and organochlorine analyses. Mean cadmium, chromium, mercury, and selenium concentrations were consistent with levels observed in other avian studies and were below toxic thresholds. However, elevated concentrations of chromium and mercury in some individuals may warrant concern. Furthermore, although mean polychlorinated biphenyl and pp'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene concentrations were below acute toxic thresholds, they were surprisingly high given Adak Island's remote location.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Anchorage Field Office, 605 West 4th Avenue, Room G-61, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, USA. jordan_stout@fws.gov
authors.forename: Jordan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Trust
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D020307:Eagles / Q000378:metabolism*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium