SpringerLink
Log in

Persistent Organic Pollutants in Muscle and Feather of Ten Avian Species from Māzandarān Province of Iran, on the Coast of the Caspian Sea

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Feather and muscle of 10 avian species (n = 46), were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Muscle contained significantly higher PCB and OCP than liver and feather. Mean muscle and feather PCB was 408.5 ± 134.5 and 32 ± 4.5 ng/g wet weight. Highly chlorinated PCBs were found in muscle and liver while feather had PCBs with less chlorination. Gulls had highest levels of both pollutants. Gull feather PCB and OCP were strongly correlated with their levels in the liver and muscle tissues (0.6 < r < 0.9, p < 0.01). Analysis of gull feather can be used as a non-invasive method for monitoring organic pollutants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boumphrey RS, Harrad SJ, Jones KC, Osborn D (1993) Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners patterns in tissues in from a selection of British birds. Environ Contam Toxicol 25:346–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Covaci A, Schepens P (2001) Chromatographic aspects of the analysis of selected persistent organochlorine pollutants in human hair. Chromatographia 53:S366–S371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dauwe T, Jaspers V, Covaci A, Schepens P, Eens M (2005) Feathers as a nondestructive biomonitor for persistent organic pollutants. Environ Toxicol Chem 24:442–449

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fossi MC, Massi A, Lari L, Marsili L, Focardi S, Leonzio C, Renzoni A (1995) Interspecies differences in mixed function oxidase activity in birds: relationship between feeding habits detoxication activities and organochlorine accumulation. Environ Pollut 90:15–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen EO, Gabrielsen GW, Trudeau S, Wolkers J, Sagerup K, Skaare JU (2000) Organochlorines and possible biochemical effects in glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from Bjørnøya, the Barents Sea. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38:234–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaspers V, Voorspoels S, Covaci A, Lepoint G, Eens M (2006) Evaluation of the usefulness of bird feathers as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for organic pollutants: a comparative and meta-analytical approach. Environ Inter 33:328–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kajiwara N, Ueno D, Monirith I, Tanabe S, Pourkazemi M, Aubrey D (2003) Contamination by organochlorine compounds in sturgeons from Caspian Sea during 2001 and 2002. Mar Pollut Bull 46:741–747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakata H, Tanabe S, Tatsukawa R, Koyama Y, Miyazaki N, Belikov S, Boltunov A (1998) Persistent organochlorine contaminants in ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) from the Kara sea, Russian Arctic. Environ Toxicol Chem 17:1745–1755

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajaei F, Esmaili-Sari A, Bahramifar N, Ghasempouri M, Savabieasfahani M (2010) Avian liver organochlorine and PCB from South coast of the Caspian Sea, Iran. Ecotoxicology 9:329–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe M, Tanabe S, Tatsukawa R, Amano M, Miyazaki N, Petrov E, Khuraskin S (1999) Contamination levels and specific accumulation of persistent organochlorines in Caspian Seal (Phoca Caspica) from the Caspian Sea, Russia. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 37:396–407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita R, Hideshige T, Murakami M, Fukuwaka M, Watanuki Y (2007) Evaluation of non-invasive approach for monitoring PCB pollution of seabirds using preen gland oil. Environ Sci Technol 41:4901–4906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran

    Fateme Rajaei, Abbas Esmaili Sari, Nader Bahramifar & Mahmood Ghasempouri

  2. Sari Unit, Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University (PNU), Noor, Māzandarān, Iran

    Nader Bahramifar

  3. University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, EHS, Room Number: M601, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA

    Mozhgan Savabieasfahani

Authors
  1. Fateme Rajaei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abbas Esmaili Sari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nader Bahramifar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mahmood Ghasempouri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Fateme Rajaei or Mozhgan Savabieasfahani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rajaei, F., Sari, A.E., Bahramifar, N. et al. Persistent Organic Pollutants in Muscle and Feather of Ten Avian Species from Māzandarān Province of Iran, on the Coast of the Caspian Sea. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 87, 678–683 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0420-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0420-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation