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Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) as bioindicators for polychlorinated biphenyls

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Abstract

Brain, livers, and subcutaneous fat of 50 Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, Blumenbach 1798) were analyzed for 6 PCB congeners. The birds had been shot in autumn 1985 and 1986 in Schleswig-Holstein, FRG. Subcutaneous fat was the highest contaminated tissue, while brain had accumulated the lowest concentrations. An accumulation by age was statistically significant between the groups of 1st year/2nd year birds and after 2nd year birds. There were no differences evident between sex and between weight groups. Pooled samples were analyzed by GC-MS; 61 congeners could be identified in adipose tissue, 54 in liver, and 49 in brain. 18 congeners were quantified in spotchecks, and some samples were analyzed by multidimensional gaschromatography. In comparison to fish they consume, the fat of cormorants was concentrated with PCBs 10–100 times more than marine fish, and 100–1,000 times more than freshwater fish. This species is a suitable bioindicator for PCBs.

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  1. Abteilung Toxikologie, Universität Kiel, Brunswiker Str. 10, W-2300, Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany

    W. Scharenberg

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  1. W. Scharenberg
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Scharenberg, W. Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) as bioindicators for polychlorinated biphenyls. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 21, 536–540 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183875

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183875

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