title: Contaminants in the southern tip of South America: Analysis of organochlorine compounds in feathers of avian scavengers from Argentinean Patagonia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to organochlorine compounds (OC) in 91 primary wing feathers of avian scavengers, Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), American black vulture (Coragyps atratus) and Southern crested caracaras (Polyborus plancus) from the southern tip of South America, in the Argentinean Patagonia. We analyzed for a series of OC including hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, endosulfan, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDD), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), heptachlor and heptachlor-epoxide. This is the first study on OC in feathers of three terrestrial top carnivores from South America. OC concentrations found in the studied species were much higher than those found in feathers of raptors from Europe and Asia, which likely indicate their high use in the region, specifically in agriculture, and other possible uses of OC in this area. ∑HCH had the highest median concentration, followed by ∑Drins, ∑DDT, ∑Heptachlor, and ∑Endosulfan, similar to those reported in several food samples in Argentina. On the other hand, differences in OC profiles between species and areas may be related to feeding and migratory habits, as well as the molt period. Three individuals showed ∑DDT (DDT, DDD and DDE) concentrations in feathers related to sublethal effects. However, this comparison should be used with caution due to problems with extrapolating such data across tissues and species.
authors: Department of Toxicology, University of Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: emmaml@um.es.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Martínez-López
authors: Department of Toxicology, University of Murcia, Spain; Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Espín
authors: Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Barbar
authors: Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Lambertucci
authors: Department of Toxicology, University of Murcia, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gómez-Ramírez
authors: Department of Toxicology, University of Murcia, Spain.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: García-Fernández
mesh_terms: D000452:Aldrin / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D001717:Birds; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane / Q000032:analysis; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000032:analysis; D004726:Endosulfan / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D006533:Heptachlor / Q000032:analysis; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D006533:Heptachlor; D003634:DDT; D004026:Dieldrin; D004726:Endosulfan; D000452:Aldrin; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane
keywords: Cathartes aura; Coragyps atratus; Pesticides; Polyborus plancus; Raptors; South America