Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 170, Issue -, Pages 268-275Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.07.017
Keywords
Reproductive outcome; Otter; Grey seal; White-tailed sea eagle; Organochlorine contamination; Packed vs capillary column GC; Sweden
Categories
Funding
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
- Swedish World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF
- County boards of Jamtland, Sodermanland and Uppland
- Radda uttern i Smaland
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We studied indices of reproductive outcome in three aquatic species in relation to organochlorine concentrations during four decades. In female otters, the frequency of signs of reproduction increased after 1990. In grey seals, pregnancy rate increased 1990-2010 and uterine obstructions ceased after 1993. The frequency of uterine tumours was highest 1980-2000. The number of sea eagle nestlings per checked nest increased 1985-2000, while the frequency of desiccated eggs decreased. Organochlorine concentrations decreased at annual rates between 3.5 and 10.2%. The estimated mean concentration (mg/kg lw) for total-PCB decreased from 70 to 8 (otters), from 110 to 15 (seals) and from 955 to 275 (eagles). The corresponding concentrations for Sigma DDT decreased from 3.4 to 0.2 (otters), from 192 to 2.8 (seals) and from 865 to 65 (eagles). This study adds evidence to support the hypothesis that PCBs and DDTs have had strong negative effects on the reproduction and population levels of these species. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available