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B.M. Mulhern

Publications and source records attributed to B.M. Mulhern.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1975

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1971-72

Thirty-seven bald eagles found sick or dead in 18 States during 1971-72 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's). DDE and PCB's were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; 30 carcasses contained DDD and 28 contained dieldrin. Four eagles contained possibly lethal levels of dieldrin and nine eagles had been poisoned by thallium. Autopsies revealed that illegal shooting was the most common cause of mortality. Since 1964 when data were first collected, 8 of the 17 eagles obtained from Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida possibly died from dieldrin poisoning; all four specimens from Maryland and Virginia were from the Chesapeake Bay Tidewater area.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1973

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in black duck eggs from the United States and Canada--1971

Black duck ( Anas rubripes ) eggs were collected in 1971 from the Northeastern United States and Canada. All 61 eggs analyzed contained DDE residues; the mean DDE residues for States and Provinces ranged from 0.09 to 5.94 ppm on a wet-weight basis, with.mean concentrations exceeding 1.0 ppm in eggs from Maine, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. The highest DDE concentration, 14.0 ppm, was in an egg from Delaware. DDD and DDT residues averaged <0.5 ppm for each collection area. No mirex residues and only trace amounts of dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide were detected. Of the 61 eggs, 57 contained PCB's: mean PCB residues ranged from <0.05 ppm in samples from Nova Scotia to 3.30 ppm in those from Massachusetts. with trace amounts occurring in nearly half the samples. Mean organochlorine pesticide residues appeared to be lower in the 1971 samples than in those analyzed in an earlier study in 1964. The shells from the 61 eggs were measured for thickness. Comparisons of the shell thickness of eggs collected in 1971, 1964, and prior to 1940 showed that the average thickness of shells from eggs collected in 1964 (0.32/ mm) was significantly less (P<0.01) than that of .shells of eggs collected prior to 1940 (0.348 mm) or in 1971 (0.343 mm).

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1972

Residues of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury in bald eagle eggs and changes in shell thickness--1969 and 1970

Twenty-three bald eagle eggs collected in Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury. All eggs contained residues of DDE, dieldrin, PCB's, and mercury. Average residue concentrations were lowest in eggs from Alaska. Significant eggshell thinning has occurred among eggs from most major areas sampled. Some eggs contained DDE residues of the same magnitude as those that produced shell thinning in experimental species. High dieldrin residues in some eggs could be having an adverse effect on reproductive success.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1970

Organochlorine residues and autopsy data from bald eagles 1966-68

Sixty-nine bald eagles found moribund or dead in 25 States during 1966-68 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls and DDE were detected in all samples of eagle carcasses; residues of dieldrin were detected in 68 and residues of DDD in 64; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and DCBP were detected less frequently. Eight specimens had levels of dieldrin in the brain within the lethal range, and another probably died of DDT poisoning. Autopsy revealed that illegal shooting was the most frequent cause of mortality of these eagles; electrocution, impact injuries, probable lead poisoning, and infectious avian diseases were other causes of mortality.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1970

Organochlorine and heavy metal residues in bald eagle eggs

Bald eagle eggs collected in 1968 from nests in Wisconsin, Maine, and Florida all contained residues of DDE, DDD, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Many also contained traces of DDT. Eggs from five nonproductive nests sampled in Maine contained much higher residues than did eggs collected from either productive or nonproductive nests in Wisconsin and Florida.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1969

Pesticide residues in eagles

Bald and golden eagles found sick or dead in 18 States and Canada during 1964-1965 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues in bald eagles were considerably higher than in golden eagles. Residues of DDE, DDD, and dieldrin were detected in all samples of bald eagle carcasses; other compounds found, less frequently were heptachlor epoxide, endrin, and DCBP, a metabolite of DDT. DDE was detected in all samples of golden eagle carcasses; DDD, DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide were detected less frequently.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗