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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1970

Pesticide concentrations in Great Lakes fish

During the past 4 years the Ann Arbor Great Lakes Fishery Laboratory of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has been monitoring insecticide levels in fish from the Great Lakes. The two insecticides found in all Great Lakes fish have been DDT (DDT, DDD, DDE) and dieldrin. Fish from Lake Michigan contain from 2 to 7 times as much of these insecticides as those from the other Great Lakes. Insecticide levels calculated on a whole-fish basis show a marked difference from species to species. Within a species there is also an increase in DDT and dieldrin levels with an increase in size. If these insecticide levels are, however, calculated as ppm of insecticide in the extractable fish oil, the differences in concentration between species and the differences between size groups becomes considerably less. Laboratory experiments indicate that fish can build up concentrations of DDT and dieldrin at the parts-per-million level from parts-per-trillion concentrations in the water.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1972

Residues of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury in bald eagle eggs and changes in shell thickness--1969 and 1970

Twenty-three bald eagle eggs collected in Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury. All eggs contained residues of DDE, dieldrin, PCB's, and mercury. Average residue concentrations were lowest in eggs from Alaska. Significant eggshell thinning has occurred among eggs from most major areas sampled. Some eggs contained DDE residues of the same magnitude as those that produced shell thinning in experimental species. High dieldrin residues in some eggs could be having an adverse effect on reproductive success.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1972

Residues of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1969 and 1970

Thirty-nine bald eagles found sick or dead in 13 States during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of DDE, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and mercury were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; DDD residues were detected in 38; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) were detected less frequently. Six eagles contained possible lethal levels of dieldrin in the brain, and one contained a lethal concentration of DDE (385 ppm) in the brain together with 235 ppm of PCB's. Autopsy revealed that 18 bald eagles were illegally shot; other causes of death were impact injuries, electrocution, emaciation, and infectious diseases.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1974

Residues of organochlorine pesticides, mercury, and PCB's in mourning doves from eastern United States--1970-71

Mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura) breast muscle samples from birds collected in 1970-71 from Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida were found to contain residues of DDT, DDE, DDD, polychlorinated biphenyls, dieldrin, mirex, mercury, and heptachlor epoxide in amounts not considered hazardous to consumers, human or nonhuman. There were 145 birds involved, 7 to 10 from each State. Residues of DDT plus DDE plus DDD averaged 5.83 ppm lipid weight (0.068 ppm wet weight); those of PCB's, 9.75 ppm lipid weight (0.121 ppm wet weight); compounds were found in all birds. Heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin were found in little more than trace amounts: heptachlor in all birds, dieldrin in 73. Mirex was found only in birds from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, averaging 4.32 ppm lipid weight (0.046 ppm wet weight) in eight birds. Less than 0.05 ppm (wet weight) mercury was found in all birds except 10, in which it ranged from 0.07 to 0.67 ppm. The 10 were from Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1974

Nationwide organochlorine and mercury residues in wings of adult mallard and black ducks during the 1969-70 hunting season

Nationwide monitoring of organochlorine and mercury residues in wings of approximately 5,200 adult mallards and black (ducks bagged during the 1969-70 hunting season showed DDE, as in 1965 and 1966, to be the predominant residue. PCB's were next in overall prevalence, followed by mercury, DDT, dieldrin, DDD, and heptachlor epoxide. There was no indication of a decrease in levels from 1966. Residues were generally highest in the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways and lowest in the Central Flyway; PCB's, however, were highest in the Atlantic Flyway and diminished westward across the Nation. Mercury residues were highest in A tlantic Flyway black ducks. Monitoring results were consistent: States with high residues in 1965 and 1966 were again high in 1969. Analyses of individual wings of mallards from California and black ducks from New Jersey and New York revealed DDE residues as high as 41 ppm and certain regional and seasonal differences in levels within States. They also revealed an apparent tendency for DDE residues to be more variable and to attain higher levels in male than in female wings.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1974

Chlorinated hydrocarbon and mercury residues in woodcock in the United States, 1970-71

During Late 1970 and early 1971, 229 woodcock (Philohela minor) were collected from 23 Eastern and Midwestern States. Analyses for chlorinated hydrocarbons and mercury in these migratory birds showed generally low levels which are not considered dangerous to human consumers. In this survey, Louisiana woodcock had lower residues of heptachlor epoxide and DDE than those tested in a 1965 survey. PCB levels, however, may have increased. Mirex levels were greatest in Mississipi and Louisiana woodcock. Pooling of birds and averaging of individually analyzed birds did not provide equivalent estimates of equivalent residues; pool values tended to be larger and more variable. Levels of six chlorinated hydrocarbons and mercury were negatively correlated with the latitude of the collection site. However, this relationship seemed weakest for PCB's. Among eight chemical residues, PCB levels were most often correlated with levels of the other seven. Levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons in wings were correlated with levels in breast muscle and in carcass; however, mean levels of certain residues differed significantly among wing, muscle, and carcass even when compared on a lipid basis.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1974

Relations of the brown pelican to certain environmental pollutants

Nearly all brown pelican eggs collected from 13 colonies in South Carolina, Florida, and California in 1969 and from 17 colonies in South Carolina and Florida in 1970 exhibited eggshell thinning. Of the 100 eggs analyzed for residues of pollutants, all eggs contained measurable quantities of DDE; most eggs contained measurable quantities of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, or PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls). All eggs contained measurable quantities of mercury. DDE appears to have been responsible for virtually all the eggshell thinning. There is strong evidence that DDE played a major role in lowered reproductive success in South Carolina and California, and this pollutant appears to be intimately related to the population decline in South Carolina. Other pollutants, particularly dieldrin, may have had deleterious effect on reproductive success in South Carolina. Carcasses of pelicans collected by shooting in Florida and South Carolina in 1970 varied in residue load according to age and geographic location. Birds under 1 year of age contained smaller quantities of residues than did birds I year or older.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1973

Organochlorine residues in woodcock wings, 11 states--1970-71

A survey of organochlorine residues in woodcock wings was undertaken to determine whether these wings are suitable for showing regional differences in residues and to obtain a baseline in 1970-71 for later comparisons. Woodcock wings were obtained from the annual hunter's wing survey. Samples came from eight States (Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) and one tri-State area (North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). Wings from the tri-State area contained significantly higher (P<0.01) concentrations of DDT (including DDT, DDD, and DDE) than those from other States. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) also were significantly higher (P<0.05) in samples from these three States. Wings from Louisiana and the tri-State area had significantly higher (P<0.01) concentrations of dieldrin than wings from the other States, and those from Louisiana had significantly higher (P < 0.01) concentrations of mirex than those from other States. (Residues are on lipid base) The compounds detected and the ranges of residue means for all sampling areas were as follows: Total DDT (5.89--65.15 ppm); DDT (0.34 m--14.93 ppm); DDE (4.66--47.47 ppm); DDD (0.11--3.44 ppm); mirex (0.76--16.93 ppm); dieldrin (0.09--3.06 ppm); and PCB's (4.27--8.63 ppm). Woodcock wings appear to be suitable for determining regional differences in organochlorine residues in this species.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1973

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in black duck eggs from the United States and Canada--1971

Black duck ( Anas rubripes ) eggs were collected in 1971 from the Northeastern United States and Canada. All 61 eggs analyzed contained DDE residues; the mean DDE residues for States and Provinces ranged from 0.09 to 5.94 ppm on a wet-weight basis, with.mean concentrations exceeding 1.0 ppm in eggs from Maine, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. The highest DDE concentration, 14.0 ppm, was in an egg from Delaware. DDD and DDT residues averaged <0.5 ppm for each collection area. No mirex residues and only trace amounts of dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide were detected. Of the 61 eggs, 57 contained PCB's: mean PCB residues ranged from <0.05 ppm in samples from Nova Scotia to 3.30 ppm in those from Massachusetts. with trace amounts occurring in nearly half the samples. Mean organochlorine pesticide residues appeared to be lower in the 1971 samples than in those analyzed in an earlier study in 1964. The shells from the 61 eggs were measured for thickness. Comparisons of the shell thickness of eggs collected in 1971, 1964, and prior to 1940 showed that the average thickness of shells from eggs collected in 1964 (0.32/ mm) was significantly less (P<0.01) than that of .shells of eggs collected prior to 1940 (0.348 mm) or in 1971 (0.343 mm).

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1970

Organochlorine residues and autopsy data from bald eagles 1966-68

Sixty-nine bald eagles found moribund or dead in 25 States during 1966-68 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls and DDE were detected in all samples of eagle carcasses; residues of dieldrin were detected in 68 and residues of DDD in 64; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and DCBP were detected less frequently. Eight specimens had levels of dieldrin in the brain within the lethal range, and another probably died of DDT poisoning. Autopsy revealed that illegal shooting was the most frequent cause of mortality of these eagles; electrocution, impact injuries, probable lead poisoning, and infectious avian diseases were other causes of mortality.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1970

Organochlorine and heavy metal residues in bald eagle eggs

Bald eagle eggs collected in 1968 from nests in Wisconsin, Maine, and Florida all contained residues of DDE, DDD, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Many also contained traces of DDT. Eggs from five nonproductive nests sampled in Maine contained much higher residues than did eggs collected from either productive or nonproductive nests in Wisconsin and Florida.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1970

Organochlorine insecticide residues in soils and soil invertebrates from agricultural lands

Soils and earthworms and other soil invertebrates were collected from 67 agricultural fields in eight States. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography for DDE, DDD, DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and gamma-chlordane insecticides. Organochlorine insecticides in soils averaged 1.5 ppm, dry weight, and in earthworms, 13.8 ppm. Residues in earthworms averaged nine times that in soils. Residues ranged from a trace to 19.1 ppm in soils and from a trace to 159.4 ppm in earthworms. Residues in beetle larvae from two fields averaged 0.6 ppm; in snails from two fields, 3.5 ppm; and in slugs from four fields, 89.0 ppm. Amounts of insecticides in earthworms varied directly with amounts in soils. Coefficients of correlation between residues in soils and residues in earthworms usually were significant for DDE, DDD, and DDT regardless of crop or soil type.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1969

Pesticide residues in eagles

Bald and golden eagles found sick or dead in 18 States and Canada during 1964-1965 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues in bald eagles were considerably higher than in golden eagles. Residues of DDE, DDD, and dieldrin were detected in all samples of bald eagle carcasses; other compounds found, less frequently were heptachlor epoxide, endrin, and DCBP, a metabolite of DDT. DDE was detected in all samples of golden eagle carcasses; DDD, DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide were detected less frequently.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1969

Nationwide residues of organochlorine pesticides in wings of mallards and black ducks

Nationwide monitoring of organochlorine pesticides in wings of more than 24,000 mallards and black ducks bagged during the1965 and 1966 hunting seasons showed DDE to be the predominant residue, followed in order by DDT, DDD, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide. Residues were generally highest in wings from the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways, and lowest in the Central Flyway. DDE was reported for every State and was notably high in wings from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, California, and Utah. Dieldrin residues were prevalent in wings from Arkansas, Texas, Utah, California, and several Stales in the Atlantic Flyway.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1967

Residues in fish, wildlife, and estuaries. Indicator species near top of food chain chosen for assessment of pesticide base levels in fish and wildlife--clams, oysters, and sediment in estuarine environment

Federal efforts to determine pesticide levels in fish and wildlife are being carried out by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U. S. Department of the Interior. Monitoring estuarine pesticide levels in clams, oysters, and sediments is a joint endeavor of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, and the Water Supply and Sea Resources Program of the National Center for Urban and Industrial Health, Public Health Service, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗