Transfer of crude oil from contaminated water to bird eggs

P.H. Albers

doi:10.1016/0013-9351(80)90143-7

Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 5221633

Transfer of crude oil from contaminated water to bird eggs

P.H. Albers

View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Paris of breeding mallard ducks were exposed to oiled water for 2 days during the first week of incubation. Hatching success of ducks exposed to 100 ml of Prudhoe Bay crude oil per square meter of water surface was significantly less than that of controls. Hatching success of ducks exposed to 5 ml of crude oil per square meter of water surface was less than that of controls but the difference was not significant. The presence of oil on the eggs of ducks exposed to oiled water was confirmed by chemical analysis. Thermocouple probes were used to monitor the egg and nest temperatures of some of the ducks in each of the three groups. Incubation temperatures of oiled females were not significantly different from those of the controls. The incubation behavior of females exposed to oiled water and the first-week survival of their ducklings was not affected by the oil.

Explore related subjects

Environmental Research Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

P.H. Albers. 1980. Transfer of crude oil from contaminated water to bird eggs. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(80)90143-7

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

Urbanization alters riverine fluorescent dissolved organic matter characteristics in a forested city – metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia (USA)

Streams and rivers in urban watersheds are predicted to export more bioreactive, autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) relative to forested watersheds. However, the spatial and temporal variations of DOM quality in forested urban watersheds remain uncertain, and their relationships with socioeconomic conditions, biological characteristics, and the built environment are understudied. We measured optical properties of fluorescent DOM (FDOM) in 93 streams spanning a gradient of land-use and land cover during four seasons in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Streamwater FDOM was dominated by humic substances from anthropogenic (41%) and terrestrial origin (41.5%). Impervious surface cover was the strongest predictor, which was positively correlated with anthropogenically- and autochthonously-derived FDOM. Overwater canopy cover was positively associated with autochthonous FDOM, and housing age increased diagenetic FDOM. FDOM was more proteinaceous during low-flow conditions (fall, winter), and more allochthonous humic-like FDOM was detected during periods of higher flows (spring, summer). Interestingly, wastewater-related FDOM proxies were highest during low flows, suggesting that sewer exfiltration is a pervasive source and is diluted by other inputs during high flows. Overall, seasonal patterns in FDOM quality were associated with changes in hydrology, and FDOM was primarily humic throughout the year, a pattern likely driven by ubiquitous forest canopy cover. Our results highlight the importance of urban forests in mediating aquatic carbon cycling and provide a template for future studies that integrate sociodemographic and infrastructure information into studies of watershed biogeochemistry, especially in regions undergoing rapid, intense, and localized urban development.

Georgia↗

USGS2026

PFAS contamination in Florida estuarine fishes: Levels, patterns, and estimated human and ecological health risks

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose a significant health threat due to their environmental persistence and toxicity. While PFAS contamination is widespread in Florida, the state currently lacks fish consumption advisories (FCAs) for these compounds, despite existing FCAs for legacy pollutants. This study quantified 40 PFAS in edible muscle tissue from 264 fish (16 species) across four estuaries along Florida's Atlantic coast to assess ecological and human health risks. The highest concentrations of total PFAS were found in Red Drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ; 0.209 – 51.6 ng/g wet weight) and Spotted Seatrout ( Cynoscion nebulosus; 2.01 – 24.3 ng/g ww) in the Indian River Lagoon, where up to 68% of Red Drum and 75% of Spotted Seatrout exceeded ecological quality standards, indicating potential impacts on predators. PFOS was the predominant PFAS, driving ecological and human health risks. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of PFOS exceeded the EPA reference dose (RfD) by up to 3 orders of magnitude, with the highest exposures concentrated in Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout from the Indian River Lagoon. These findings highlight that PFAS monitoring of tissue concentrations in fish across Florida's freshwater and marine systems would be needed for accurately quantifying exposure risks. Such efforts are fundamental to informing regulatory frameworks regarding FCAs and ensuring the long-term protection of aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Florida↗

USGS2026

Drinking water arsenic, urinary arsenic biomarkers, and cognitive impairment in the REGARDS study

Background There are several pathways by which inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure can affect cognition among adults. Few epidemiologic studies evaluate iAs in water and inter-individual differences in urinary arsenic toxicokinetics. We aimed to estimate the association between individual-level urinary arsenic biomarkers, county-level iAs in drinking water, and cognitive impairment in a cohort of Black and White Americans. Methods We evaluated the association between county-level iAs in water and urinary iAs metabolites with incident cognitive impairment in REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS). Participants were linked to county-level concentrations of arsenic in public water (n = 15,516) and county-level probabilities of private well arsenic exceeding 10 μg/L (n = 20,448). In addition, urinary concentrations of iAs, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were measured in a subset of participants (n = 1,013). Cognitive impairment was determined by the Six Item Screener (SIS) and the Enhanced Cognitive Battery (ECB). We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios. Results Approximately 9 % of participants in REGARDS developed incident cognitive impairment on the SIS over 10 years of follow-up. County-level public water iAs concentrations and private well iAs probabilities were not associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment. Higher concentrations of MMA (OR: 1.74 [95 % CI: 1.22, 2.49]) and iAs (OR: 1.58 [95 % CI: 1.12, 2.22]) in urine were associated with greater odds of cognitive impairment on the SIS. Results for the ECB were similar. Conclusions iAs exposure may be associated with cognitive impairment. Our findings highlight the importance of considering multiple measures of iAs exposure.

Environmental Research↗