| 1. |
- Helander, Björn, 1946-, et al.
(författare)
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The Role of DDE, PCB, Coplanar PCB and Eggshell Parameters for Reproduction in the White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Sweden.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Ambio. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 31:5, s. 386-403
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The reproduction of white-tailed sea eagles was monitoredin1964–1999 in 3 differently contaminated sub-populations: BalticSea coast (Bp), inland central Sweden (Ip) and Lapland (Lp). 249dead eggs from 205 clutches were obtained for analyses of DDEand PCBs and for eggshell measurements. A desiccation index(Di) value was calculated for each egg as a measure of waterloss through the shell. In the highly contaminated Bp, p,p´-DDEconcentrations in the eggs decreased continuously and 5-foldduring the study period and PCB concentrations decreased 3-fold from the mid 1980s. The PCB pattern changed slightly overtime towards more high-chlorinated congeners but the relativetoxicity of the PCB mixture, expressed as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQ), remained constant and TEQcan be assumed to have decreased in a similar way as PCB overtime. Productivity (P), shell thickness (St), shell index (Si) and Diincreased over time in the Bp but no change in Di or productivityoccurred in the Lp, where residue concentrations were 5–8 timeslower. P of the Bp was not correlated to St or Si but was negatively correlated to Di, DDE and PCB. An S-shaped doseresponse relationship was indicated between P and DDE. After1988, when the PCB/DDE ratio was considerably higher thanpreviously, PCB but not DDE concentrations were significantlyhigher in eggs with dead embryos as compared to undevelopedeggs, implying lethal concentrations of PCB, and a LOEL of 320pg g–1 TEQ is suggested for embryo mortality. In a subset of 21eggs, representing productive and unproductive females, analyzed for a selection of coplanar PCB congeners, tris(4-chlorophenyl) methanol and bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulphone, there wasno evidence for a correlation between P and any of these compounds. A reduction in residue concentrations in old females didnot lead to increased P or improved Di-values, indicating aremaining effect from a previous, higher exposure to contaminants. The inability to reproduce included a high rate ofundeveloped eggs, indicating effects at a prezygotic stage. Pshowed the strongest correlation with Di, and Di was moststrongly correlated to DDE. Thus, the remaining effect of previousexposure resulted in a stronger correlation to the symptom (Di)rather than to the suggested causative agent (DDE). LOEL valuesfor depressed P were estimated at 120 µg g–1 DDE and 500 µgg–1 PCB (lipid basis). It is concluded that the major reason fordepressed P during the study period was DDE, but that effectsalso from PCB were largely concealed by the effects from DDE.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Ecke, Frauke, et al.
(författare)
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Gifter i naturen skadar djuren
- 2020
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Ingår i: Gifter och Miljö. - Stockholm : Naturvårdsverket. ; , s. 39-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Bly är giftigt och kan direkt eller indirekt orsaka stora problem hos däggdjur och fåglar.I vissa fall kan blyförgiftning orsaka att de dör. Även om tillförseln av bly till naturen harminskat de senaste decennierna så återstår stora problem. Framför allt för en del rovfåglar och asätande däggdjur.
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| 4. |
- Ecke, Frauke, et al.
(författare)
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Sublethal Lead Exposure Alters Movement Behavior in Free-Ranging Golden Eagles
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 51:10, s. 5729-5736
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lead poisoning of animals due to ingestion of fragments from lead-based ammunition in carcasses and offal of shot wildlife is acknowledged globally and raises great concerns about potential behavioral effects leading to increased mortality risks. Lead levels in blood were correlated with progress of the moose hunting season. Based on analyses of tracking data, we found that even sublethal lead concentrations in blood (25 ppb, wet weight), can likely negatively affect movement behavior (flight height and movement rate) of free ranging scavenging Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Lead levels in liver of recovered post-mortem analyzed eagles suggested that sublethal exposure increases the risk of mortality in eagles. Such adverse effects on animals are probably common worldwide and across species, where game hunting with lead-based ammunition is widespread. Our study highlights lead exposure as a considerably more serious threat to wildlife conservation than previously realized and suggests implementation of bans of lead ammunition for hunting.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Helander, Björn, 1946-, et al.
(författare)
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Havsörn
- 2013
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Ingår i: Havet. ; , s. 90-92
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Helander, Björn, 1946-, et al.
(författare)
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Major lead exposure from hunting ammunition in eagles from Sweden
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; , s. 1-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Exposure to lead (Pb) from ammunition in scavenging and raptorial birds has achieved worldwide recognition based on incidences of lethal poisoning, but exposure implies also sublethal levels with potential harmful effects.Background and elevated Pb levels in liver from 116 golden eagles (GE, Aquila chrysaetos) and 200 white-tailed sea eagles (WTSE, Haliaeetus albicilla) from Sweden 2003–2011 are here examined, with supporting data from a previous WTSE report and eagle owl (EO, Bubu bubo) report. GE and WTSE display seasonal patterns, with no Pb level exceeding a generally accepted threshold for subclinical effects during summer but strongly elevated levels from October. Fledged juveniles show significantly lower levels than all other age classes, but reach levels found in older birds in autumn after the start of hunting seasons. Pb levels in EO (non-scavenger) show no seasonal changes and indicate no influence from ammunition, and are close to levels observed in juvenile eagles before October. In all, 15% WTSE and 7% GE were lethally poisoned. In areas with high-exposure to hunting ammunition, 24% of WTSE showed lethal Pb levels, compared to 7% in both eagle species from low-exposure areas. Lethal poisoning of WTSE remained as frequent after (15%) as before (13%) a partial ban on use of Pb-based shotgun ammunition over shallow waters (2002). Pb levels increased significantly in WTSE 1981–2011,in contrast to other biota from the same period. A significant decrease of Pb in WTSE liver occurred below a threshold at 0.25 μg/g (dry weight), exceeded by 81% of the birds. Trend patterns in Pb isotope ratios lend further support to this estimated cut-off level for environmental background concentrations. Pb from spent ammunition affects a range of scavenging and predatory species. A shift to Pb-free ammunition to save wildlife from unnecessary harm is an important environmental and ethical issue.
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| 9. |
- Helander, Björn, 1946-, et al.
(författare)
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Temporal Changes in Concentrations of Lead and Other Trace Metalsin Free‑Ranging Eurasian Eagle Owls Bubo bubo in Sweden
- 2019
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Ingår i: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. - : Springer. - 0090-4341 .- 1432-0703. ; 77:3, s. 377-389
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Patterns of lead and other trace metals were examined in 122 Eurasian eagle owls Bubo bubo found dead in Sweden in the period 1978–2013. Environmental lead (Pb) has decreased over recent decades from reduced anthropogenic emissions but mortality by Pb poisoning is still frequently reported for avian raptors and scavengers exposed to Pb ammunition. One objective here was to determine if Pb concentrations in a nocturnal non-scavenging raptor follow the general decline observed in other biota. Pb concentration in owl liver was significantly correlated with body weight, sex, latitude, longitude and season. Pb showed a significant decreasing trend towards north and west. Starved birds had significantly higher concentrations. Total Pb concentrations in liver averaged 0.179 μg g−1 dry weight (median 0.103) and decreased by 5.6% per year 1978–2013, or 5.3% after adjustment for confounding factors, similar to trends in other species. Among 14 other trace elements only antimony and arsenic showed decreasing trends. Lead isotope ratios 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb increased from 1.138 and 2.408 in 1978–1985 to 1.170 and 2.435 in 2010–2013, respectively, demonstrating that the decreasing Pb concentration in eagle owl is related to the phase-out of leaded gasoline in Europe, where Pb additives had much lower isotope ratios than natural lead in Swedish soils. Only one incidence of suspected Pb poisoning (40.7 μg g−1 in liver) was observed indicating that poisoning from ingestion of metallic lead is rare (< 1%) in eagle owl in Sweden, in contrast to what has been reported for eagles.
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| 10. |
- Helander, Björn, 1946-
(författare)
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Using raptors as environmental sentinels: Monitoring the white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla in Sweden
- 2008
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Ingår i: Ambio. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 37:6, s. 425-431
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper summarizes results from the monitoring of reproduction of white-tailed sea eagle in Sweden 1965–2006. Since 1989 the eagle population on the Swedish Baltic coast has been included in the National Environment Monitoring Program as an indicator species for potentially harmful chemicals. The percentage of successfully reproducing pairs and nestling brood size decreased in synchrony with rising concentrations of contaminants in the 1950s on into the 1970s. Mean productivity was 1.3 young per pair prior to 1950 and decreased to 0.3 in 1965–1985. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) in eagle eggs decreased from a range of annual means in 1965–1974 of 600-1200 lg g1 (lipid weight) to 60–140 lg g1 in 1996–2005. Total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations averaged above 1000 lg g1 into the early 1980s and remained in the range of 250–500 lg g1 in 1996–2005. Productivity began to improve when concentrations of DDE and PCBs dropped below approximately 300 and 800 lg g1, respectively. Brood size remains below the pre-1950level in one coastal region, indicating a possible impact from other contaminants. The power to detect significant trends under the program is presented and discussed: if white-tailed sea eagle reproduction had been monitored earlier during the 20th century, the negative impact of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT, source of DDE) would have been signaled as early as the 1950s in the Baltic Sea. The dramatic fall of white-tailed sea eagle reproduction under the influence of DDT and PCBs, and the subsequent rise following their ban, illustrates the usefulness of raptors like sea eagles as sentinels for environmental pollutants.
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