Contaminants in Herring Gull Eggs from the Great Lakes: 25 Years of Monitoring Levels and Effects
- ISBN-10
- 0662255291
- ISBN-13
- 9780662255291
- Pages
- 12
- Language
- English
- Published
- 1997
- Publisher
- Environment Canada
- Authors
- Canada. Environment Canada, C. A. Bishop, Weseloh
Description
This fact sheet describes changes in the concentrations of four selected organochlorine compounds found 1971-1995 in the eggs of herring gulls living around the Great Lakes. These compounds include pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxin. It includes information on the biology of the herring gull and the reasons why that species is used as an indicator of environmental contamination. The paper also reviews some of the biological effects associated with these chemicals which have been observed both in gulls and other piscivorous waterbirds living on the Great Lakes. Finally, initiatives under way to improve the Great Lakes ecosystem and reduce concentrations of contaminants are reviewed.
