title: Changes in blood pesticide levels in booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) associated with agricultural land practices.
abstract: We estimated the degree of exposure to lindane and endosulfan in the blood of booted eagle nestlings (Hieraaetus pennatus) (1999-2003), in order to assess the usefulness of these samples as a unit for monitoring changes in exposure as a result of shifts in agricultural practices and the implementation of legal measures. The highest blood lindane concentrations were obtained 1 year prior to its prohibition by the European Union. Subsequent to that year, the drop in blood concentrations was dramatic. Furthermore, endosulfan blood concentrations follow a progression coinciding with an increase in olive, grape and plum-tree crops. We conclude that concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in the blood of booted eagle nestlings may be used to monitor the use of those pesticides over a particular agricultural region and alert the authorities of possible environmental or health risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: María-Mojica
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: ajgf@um.es.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: García-Fernández
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002980:Climate; D020307:Eagles / Q000097:blood*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides