Contamination by Chlorinated Hydrocarbons and Lead in Steller's
First Symposium on Steller’s and White-tailed Sea Eagles in East Asia pp. 91-106, 2000 UETA, M. & MCGRADY, M.J. (eds) Wild Bird Society of Japan, Tokyo Japan Contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons and lead in Steller’s Sea Eagle and White-tailed Sea Eagle from Hokkaido, Japan Hisato IWATA1*, Mafumi WATANABE2, Eun-Young KIM1, Rie GOTOH2, Genta YASUNAGA2, Shinsuke TANABE2, Yasushi MASUDA3 & Shoichi FUJITA1 1. Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, N18 W9 North Ward, Sapporo, Japan. 2. Department of Environment Conservation, Ehime University, Tarumi 3-5-7, Matsuyama, Japan. 3. Shiretoko Museum, Honmachi 49, Shari, Hokkaido, Japan. Abstract. Chronic exposure to man-made chemicals, particularly chlorinated hydrocarbons, in raptors has been associated with reproductive impairment and population declines. In addition, incidents of sub-lethal and lethal lead poisoning in raptors through ingestion of spent gunshot have been reported. However, little information is available on the contaminant levels of Steller’s Sea Eagle (SSE: Haliaeetus pelagicus) and White-tailed Sea Eagle (WSE: H. albicilla) from Hokkaido, Japan. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of toxic contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and lead in sea eagles wintering in Hokkaido, and to evaluate the ecotoxicological risk based on their concentrations. SSEs and WSEs which were found dead or debilitated and subsequently died in Hokkaido from 1986 to 1998 were analysed. All eagles contained detectable amounts of PCBs, DDTs, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, chlordane related compounds, and hexachlorobenzene. The highest concentrations of PCBs and DDTs in breast muscles were 18,000 and 17,000 ng/g (wet weight), respectively.
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