Organochlorine residues in woodcock wings, 11 states--1970-71
McLane, M.A.; Stickel, L.F.; Clark, E.R.; Hughes, D.L.
Pesticides Monitoring Journal 7(2): 100-103
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-6156 PMID: 4208375 Document Number: 63298
Wings of woodcock (Philohela minor) are already obtained from hunters in the eastern United States each year to evaluate the status and reproductive success of this species. A study of the organochlorine residues in such wings was undertaken in 1970-71 to determine whether the wings are suitable for the demonstration of regional differences in residue levels and to obtain a baseline for later comparisons.The samples examined were from Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin; there was also a pooled sample from the States of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The concentrations of DDT (including DDT, DDD and DDE) were significantly higher in the pooled sample than in the other samples, the concentrations of dieldrin were significantly higher in the pooled sample and that from Louisiana than in those from other States, and the concentration of mirex was significantly higher in the sample from Louisiana than in any of the other samples. The insecticides detected, with (in brackets) the ranges of the mean concentrations in p.p.m. for all the sampling areas were total DDT (5.89-65.15), mirex (0.76-16.93) and dieldrin (0.09-3.06). It is concluded that woodcock wings are suitable for the determination of regional differences in residues of organochlorine compounds.