title: Concentration of contaminants in breeding bird eggs from the Colorado River Delta, Mexico.
abstract: Organic contaminants (organochlorine [OC], organophosphorus [OP] pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]), and metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Se) are a concern to avian health in the Colorado River delta, Mexico. We determined concentrations of contaminants in eggs of three breeding species of birds from the delta (mourning doves [Zenaida macroura], burrowing owls [Athene cunicularia], and marsh wrens [Cistothorus palustris]). We collected 27 eggs of mourning doves, eight eggs of burrowing owls, and 18 eggs of marsh wrens for analyses. Polychlorinated biphenyls, OC, and OP pesticides were analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector, and metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The non-ortho PCB congeners (PCB 77 and 126) were found in mourning dove and burrowing owl eggs at concentrations in which hatchability can be affected. Mean selenium concentration found in marsh wren eggs (5.6 microg/g dry wt) exceeded the level of concern. Arsenic and Cd were found at higher than normal concentrations, Hg concentrations did not exceed the level of concern in any of the species, and Pb concentrations were higher in eggs of species subject to hunting. With the exception of lead, marsh wren eggs contained the highest metal concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C. (CIAD) Unidad Guaymas, Carretera al Varadero Nacional Km 6.6 A.P. 284, Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico C.P. 85480. jaqueline@cascabel.ciad.mx
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Hernández
authors.forename: Yelena V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Sapozhnikova
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlenk
authors.forename: Andrew Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Osvel
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hinojosa-Huerta
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rivera-Díaz
authors.forename: Norma Alicia
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ramos-Delgado
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Bon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000196:embryology*; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D008800:Mexico; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010575:Pesticides