Assessment of organochlorine pesticide exposure in a wintering population of razorbills (Alca torda) from the southwestern Mediterranean

Abstract

Sixteen organochlorine pesticides (OC) were analyzed in several tissue types (abdominal and subcutaneous fat, liver and brain) from juvenile (n=14), immature (n=9), subadult (n=7) and adult (n=20) razorbill (Alca torda) collected from the southwestern Mediterranean coastline, in the East of Spain (La Marina, Elche, Alicante, Spain). These razorbills had drowned in fishing nets (most probably) while searching for food. The objective was to assess the exposure to organochlorine pesticide residues in this wintering population of marine birds. This paper presents, as far as we are aware, the first published data on OC concentrations in razorbills. The highest levels were found in abdominal fat followed by subcutaneous fat, liver and brain. A significant positive relationship was found between age and OC levels in tissues, and with the highest levels in adults. The group of sigma Drins had the highest concentrations, followed by sigma DDT, sigma Endosulfan, sigma HCH and sigma Heptachlor, with endrin aldehyde being the compound which reached the highest levels. The p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT ratio in fatty tissues suggests exposure to non-degraded DDT and thus is present in the environment despite its prohibition. The OC levels detected were higher than those found in other studies on Alcidae, which may be explained by the Mediterranean habitat in which the birds were found. However, these levels are below concentrations for which any observable effect has been described.