Organochlorine pesticide residues in small migratory birds, 1964-73
Johnston, D.W.
Pesticides Monitoring Journal 9(2): 79-88
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-6156 PMID: 1208187 Document Number: 93274
Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide burdens, especially those of DDT and its metabolites, have been determined for 19 species of small terrestrial migratory birds killed chiefly at Florida television towers between 1964 and 1973. All 128 samples were sorted into pools by species. All pooled samples except one contained DDE and DDT and DDD occurred frequently; dieldrin was present in 60 of the samples. In small subsamples, residues of total DDT (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE) sometimes differed between males and females, adults and immatures, and northbound and southbound migrants, but the results of these comparisons were inconclusive. DDT burdens were highest in adipose tissue and much lower in liver and brain samples. Especially among birds taken since 1970, the pesticide levels in adipose tissue have been at low levels, generally less than 3 p.p.m DDT. These low quantities are comparable to those quoted in other reports on birds of similar trophic levels. The insectivorous and granivorous birds feeding on or near the ground tended to have higher DDT levels than did the more arboreal species.