weight for 5 days. For all treatments, P4 was
A silt fence filter was required to retain poten-
tially toxic particles of 0.1-mm diameter and
detected in the yolk and not in the white. It was
larger that could become suspended in water
first detected in the yolk approximately 1 to 2 days
decanted from contaminated dredge spoils. An
after P4 exposure and became nondetectable 6 to
experimental study was perfomed to select it. The
10 days after P4 exposure. The total P4 recovered
experiments consisted of two parts, Part 1 tests
from eggs of chickens treated with P4 was less than
were conducted according to an accepted engi-
0.01% of the administered dose.
neering standard to compare four candidate
geotextiles. Part 2 tests simulated expected field
Nam, S.I., B.D. Roebuck, and M.E. Walsh (1994)
conditions, and were conducted to determine
Uptake and loss of white phosphorus in American
whether one geotextile selected from the Part 1
kestrels. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,
tests was likely to perform well. The geotextile
13(4): 637641.
seleted for Part 2 tests retained particles of 0.1
American kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed to a
mm and larger, and was installed as a silt fence
diet containing white phosphorus (P4) had detect-
filter in the field. The silt fence filter was removed
able quantities of P4 only in their fatty tissues. As
shortly after dredging began because it clogged,
early as 24 hours after dosing, P4 was found in the
primarily due to unexpeted, high amounts of sus-
fat depots and skin but not in other tissues such as
pended sediment in the supernatant. The design
the brain, heart, intestine, liver, kidney, and mus-
of the support structure for the silt fence did not
cle. After 7 days of continuous exposure to P4-con-
taining diet (6.4 g P4/g of diet), the skin but not
permit maintenance of the filter, which may have
prevented its failure. The failure may also have
the fat depots showed significant accumulation of
P4. When a P4-containing diet (6.4 g P4/g of diet)
been prevented if salt or other materials used to
promote flocculation of the dredged spoils were
was fed for 2 days followed by 3 days of feeding a
diet containing less P4 (0.7 g P4/g of diet), P4 was
readily available and used on the spoils. The
selection procedure described may be helpful
not detectable in the tissues. Upon refeeding with
beause the conditions tested for in the laboratory
the higher dietary concentration of P4, P4 was
are likely to occur or could be induced.
again detectable in skin and fat. This cyclic dosing
regimen indicates that tissue levels are sensitive to
dietary levels of P4.
Nam, S.I., D.L. MacMillan, and B.D. Roebuck
(1996) The translocation of white phosphorus
from hen (Gallus domesticus) to eggs. Environmen-
Pochop, P.A., J.L. Cummings, C.A. Yoder, and
tal Toxicology and Chemistry, 15(9): 15641569.
W .A. Gossweiler (in press) A physical barrier to
reduce white phosphorus mortalities of foraging
Thousands of waterfowl deaths occurring at
Eagle River Flats (ERF), Anchorage, Alaska,
waterfowl. Journal of Environmental Engineering.
U.S.A., have been attributed to the ingestion of
White phosphorus has been identified as the
white phosphorus (P4) particles. White phospho-
cause of mortality to certain species of waterfowl
rus has been found in the egg of one herring gull
using Eagle River Flats, a tidal marsh in Alaska,
(Larus argentatus) and in the yolks of some shore-
used as an ordnance impact area by the U.S. Army. A
birds at ERF. The presence of P4 in eggs suggests
blend of calcium bentonite/organo-clays, gravel,
potential toxic consequences for avian reproduc-
and binding polymers was tested for effectiveness
tion. This study was undertaken to determine the
as a barrier to reduce duck foraging and mortality.
Following the application of the barrier to one of
location from the hen to the egg. Egg-laying hens
two contaminated ponds, we observed greater duck
(Gallus domesticus) were gavaged with a single
foraging and higher mortality in the untreated pond
dose of 1, 3, or 5 mg P4/kg body weight or dosed
and no mortality in the treated pond after a year of
with 1 mg P4/kg body weight for 5 consecutive
tidal inundations and ice effects. Emergent vegeta-
days. Eggs of dosed hens were collected daily.
tion recovered within a year of treatment. White
White phosphorus was extracted from the yolk
phosphorus levels in the barrier were less than the
and the white, individually, with isooctane and
method limit of detection, indicating no migration
analyzed by gas chromatography. White phos-
of white phosphorus into the material. Barrier
thickness remained relatively stable over a period
phorus had no significant effect on chicken
weight, egg weight, or shell thickness. However,
of 4 years, while vegetation was found to be
laying frequency was significantly reduced (p <
important in stabilizing the barrier material.
0.05) in chickens receiving 1 mg P4/kg body
76
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