whereas lactate dehydrogenase-L, glucose, and
mortality is not ascribable to different numbers of
alanine aminotransferase levels in plasma
each species being present. We investigated three
hypotheses for the difference in susceptibility to
increased with exposure to contaminated chicks.
this poison. First, we found that wigeons had
Histological examination of liver and kidneys
showed that the incidence and severity of lesions
more total grit in their gizzards than the suscepti-
increased when kestrels were fed contaminated
ble species and shovelers had a high proportion of
particles >1 mm compared to other species. Thus,
chicks. White phosphorus residues were measur-
ingestion of particles of white phosphorus as grit
able in 87% of the kestrels dying in the study and
cannot explain the differences in susceptibility.
20% of the survivors. This study shows that rap-
Second, feeding behavior could not completely
tors can become intoxicated either by ingesting
account for the lack of susceptibility in shovelers.
portions of digestive tracts containing white
Shovelers often forage with their neck or more in
phosphorus pellets or by consuming tissues of
P4-contaminated prey.
the water and often have their bills in the sedi-
ments. Wigeon, however, frequently forage with
just their bill in the water and rarely penetrate the
Sparling, D.W., M. Gustafson, P. Klein, and N.
sediments. This feeding behavior, coupled with a
Karouna-Renier (1997) Toxicity of white phos-
diet consisting mainly of plants, may limit expo-
phorus to waterfowl: Acute exposure to mallards.
sure of wigeon. Third, shovelers have wide upper
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 33(2): 187197.
bills, with lamellae consisting of long thin fila-
As part of an effort to understand extensive,
white phosphorus (P4)-induced waterfowl mor-
ments extending from the upper bill inward tow-
ard the lower bill. These lamellae may allow white
tality at Eagle River Flats, Fort Richardson,
phosphorus particles to be flushed out during
Alaska (USA), we conducted a number of acute
feeding. Thus, if physiological tolerance to white
toxicity tests using penned mallards (Anas platy-
phosphorus is similar among these species, the
rhynchos) in 1993 and 1994. The 24-hour median
difference in susceptibility appears to be attribut-
lethal dose (LD50) for P4 dissolved in oil was 6.46
able to differences in feeding behavior and bill
mg/kg in adult males and 6.96 mg/kg in adult
morphology.
females. Although the median lethal doses were
not statistically different, the female dose-
Walsh, M.E. (1995) Analytical method for white
response curve had a statistically shallower slope
phosphorus in water. Bulletin of Environmental
than that of males. The LD50 for the ecologically
more relevant pelletized form of P4 in adult males
An analytical method is described to determine
was 4.05 mg/kg. In mallards, one mechanism of
white phosphorus (P4) in water. The objective of this
P4 toxicity caused rapid (3 to 10 hour) mortality
and had signs consistent with anoxia. A second,
work was to develop an analytical method capable
slower-acting mechanism resulted in hepatic and
of meeting water quality criteria for the protection
renal pathology, including extensive fat deposi-
of aquatic organisms that uses standard analytical
tion in the liver and cellular necrosis. White phos-
instrumentation. The development focused on
phorus accumulated in adipose tissues, but only
a preconcentration step suitable for a volatile, air-
for a few days.
sensitive chemical. An nonevaporative preconcen-
tration step is used that takes advantage of the
favorable partioning of P4 between organic and
Steele, B.B., L.R. Reitsma, C.H. Racine, S.L. Bur-
aqueous phases (Kow=1200) and the relatively high
son, R. Stuart, and R. Theberge (1997) Different
solubility of diethyl ether in water (6.9% w/w at
susceptibilities to white phosphorus poisoning
20C). P4 is extracted from water using diethyl ether
among five species of ducks. Environmental Toxi-
cology and Chemistry, 16(11): 22752282.
(10:1 water:solvent ratio). The ether phase is collect-
Three species of ducks, mallard (Anas platy-
ed, then reduced in volume shaking with reagent-
rhynchos), northern pintail (Anas acuta), and
grade water. By using the appropriate volume of
green-winged teal (Anas crecca), that frequent an
water, excess is dissolved away, resulting in a pre-
estuarine salt marsh in Alaska during migration
concentration factor of 1000 while heat is avoided
die in large numbers from ingesting particles of
and loss of P4 by volatilization minimized. P4 is
white phosphorus. Two other common species,
then determined by capillary gas chromatography
northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) and American
and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. (This abstract
wigeon (Anas americana), are rarely found dead.
is an excerpt from the Introduction. This journal
Selectivity indices show that this difference in
does not have an abstract section.)
78
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