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Carbofuran and its Toxic Metabolites Provide Forensic Evidence for Furadan Exposure in Vultures (Gyps africanus) in Kenya

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Abstract

Forensic analysis of carbofuran residues in weathered tissue samples for evidence of Furadan exposure in vultures (Gps africanus) by HPLC gave concentration (mg/Kg dry tissue weight) ranges of bdl – 0.07 (carbofuran), bdl – 0.499 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.013–0.147 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in beaks, bdl–0.65 (carbofuran), 0.024–0.190 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.017–0.098 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in feet, 0.179–0.219 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.081–0.093 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in crop content, 0.078–0.082 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.091–0.101 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in muscle of a laced carcass and 0.006–0.014 (carbofuran), 0.590–1.010 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.095–0.135 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in soil sampled from a poisoning site. These compounds were confirmed by GC-MS. The results showed that HPLC combined with GC-MS is suitable for forensic analysis of carbofuran residues in bird tissue samples and that forensic investigation should include its two toxic metabolites, 3-hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran.

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Acknowledgments

This study was kindly funded by the Peregrine Fund, through the Africa Project. The authors also wish to thank Simon Thomsett of Athi River conservancy, Ian Craig, Chege, Joanne, Richard and all staff of Lewa wildlife conservancy, Kuki Gallman and Philip Ochieng of Gallman Memorial wildlife conservancy, Mbirikani and Kilimanjaro ranches, Darcy Ogada and all staff of the National Museum of Kenya, technical staff of Chemistry Department, Maseno University, Pierre Mineau and Ngaio Richard of Canadian Wildlife Service for the references. We also thank the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for a visiting fellowship to J. O. Lalah at Bayreuth University, Germany, which enabled the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, 40105, Maseno, Kenya

    Peter O. Otieno, Joseph O. Lalah & Isaac O. Jondiko

  2. The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID, 83709, USA

    Munir Virani

  3. Ornithology Section, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya

    Munir Virani

  4. Helmholtz Zentrum, German National Research Centre for Environmental Health, Institute of Ecological Chemistry, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Karl-Werner Schramm

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  1. Peter O. Otieno
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  2. Joseph O. Lalah
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Correspondence to Joseph O. Lalah.

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Otieno, P.O., Lalah, J.O., Virani, M. et al. Carbofuran and its Toxic Metabolites Provide Forensic Evidence for Furadan Exposure in Vultures (Gyps africanus) in Kenya. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 84, 536–544 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-9956-5

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