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Toxicology of white phosphorus (P 4 ) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size
Author(s) -
Roebuck Bill D.,
Nam SaeIm,
MacMillan Denise L.,
Baumgartner Karen J.,
Walsh Marianne E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620170323
Subject(s) - predation , phosphorus , eagle , digestive tract , toxicity , zoology , biology , range (aeronautics) , predator , particle (ecology) , ecology , chemistry , medicine , materials science , organic chemistry , composite material
Particles of white phosphorus (P 4 ) in pond sediments at Eagle River Flats, Alaska, USA, a military artillery range are acutely toxic to dabbling ducks and swans. We determined if toxicity of P 4 to ducks varied by its form (i.e., dissolved or particulate) or particulate size. Residual P 4 in the digestive tracts of ducks was measured to assess risks posed to predators and scavengers of ducks. Farm‐reared mallards were treated with 12 mg P 4 /kg body weight, either dissolved in oil, or as numerous small, or one to two large particles. At the first major convulsion, ducks were euthanized and the quantity and location of P 4 in the digestive tract were determined. These data were compared to data from dead ducks collected from the artillery range. Dissolved, small, or large particles of P 4 produced similar acute toxicity. Residual P 4 in digestive tracts was greatest in ducks treated with small particles and was as great as 3.5 mg P 4 . Similar quantities of residual P 4 were found in dead ducks collected at Eagle River Flats. For dabbling ducks, P 4 particle size is not as important as the dose ingested. For predators, the P 4 contents of the entire digestive tract is important for assessment of the risk of poisoning.