Examination of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus fulvus) in Israel for exposure to environmental toxicants using dried blood spots.
The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is one of seven species of Old World Gyps vultures found over a wide range from the Iberian peninsula in the west through the Balkans, Turkey, and the Middle East to India in the east. The population of the griffon vultures in Israel has suffered a dramatic decrease, and in recent years productivity has been severely reduced. In this study, whole-blood samples taken from 25 apparently healthy griffon vultures at various stages of maturity were examined to investigate whether the vultures are being excessively exposed to environmental contaminants that might deleteriously affect their reproduction. Five groups of environmental contaminants, comprising toxic elements, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and perfluorinated compounds, were monitored in dried blood spots. Results of the analyses showed low levels of exposure of griffon vultures to environmental contaminants compared with the sparse data available on griffon vultures and other diurnal raptors in other countries.
Department of Toxicology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 12, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel. toxbird@gmail.com
Alan
A
Shlosberg
Qian
Q
Wu
Wilson K
WK
Rumbeiha
Andreas
A
Lehner
Olga
O
Cuneah
Roni
R
King
Ohad
O
Hatzofe
Kurunthachalam
K
Kannan
Margaret
M
Johnson
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D008670:Metals; D010575:Pesticides; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls