Abstract
ANALYSES of the organs of dead birds received by the Nature Conservancy show that most contain residues of organochlorine insecticides; the most frequently observed compound is pp′-DDE, while pp′-DDT and pp′-TDE are also commonly found1. The physiological significance of these residues, however, is not known. To determine the possible effect of the concentration of residues in various organs on the survival and reproduction of birds, toxicological studies are being carried out by feeding pp′-DDT to Bengalese finches (Lonchura striata). A pilot experiment to determine the sub-lethal and lethal ranges of chronic dose rates has been completed. This experiment was also designed to examine the possibility of using the residue content of the liver as an indicator of the dose of insecticide consumed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Moore, N. W., Fifth Symp. Brit. Ecol. Soc., 219 (1965).
de Faubert Maunder, M. J., Egan, H., Godly, E. W., Hammond, E. W., Roburn, J., and Thomson, J., Analyst, 89, 168 (1964).
Goodwin, E. S., Goulden, R., and Reynolds, J. G., Analyst, 86, 697 (1961).
de Faubert Maunder, M. J., Egan, H., and Roburn, J., Analyst, 89, 157 (1964).
Evans, W. H., Analyst, 87, 569 (1962).
Klein, A. K., Laug, E. P., Datta, P. R., Watts, J. O., and Chen, J. T., J. Ass. Opp. Agric. Chem., 47, 1129 (1964).
Kallman, B. J., and Andrews, A. K., Science, 141, 1050 (1963).
Barker, P. S., Morrison, F. O., and Whitaker, R. S., Nature, 205, 621 (1965).
Stenersen, J. H. V., Nature, 207, 660 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
JEFFERIES, D., WALKER, C. Uptake of pp′-DDT and its Post-mortem Breakdown in the Avian Liver. Nature 212, 533–534 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/212533a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/212533a0
This article is cited by
-
Effects of DDT treatments applied for tsetse fly control on White-headed Black Chat (Thamnolaea arnoti) populations in Zimbabwe. Part II: cause of decline
Ecotoxicology (1992)
-
Loss of organochlorine compounds in the tissues of a decomposing stranded dolphin
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (1990)
-
Enzymatic detoxication of DDT to DDD by rat liver: Effects of some inducers and inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 enzyme system
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (1987)
-
A novel reductive system involving flavorprotein in the rat intestine
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (1978)
-
Organochlorine residues in shearwaters from the approaches to the Bay of Fundy, Canada
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (1978)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.