1. Albatross eggs and embryos were collected in field seasons from 1996 to 1998 by Department of Conservation field staff. Species collected were the Northern Royal albatross (Diomedea sanfordi), Northern Buller's mollymawk (Thalassarche (platei) (nova sp.)) and Chatham Islands mollymawk (Thalassarche eremita). 2. Tissues were submitted to ESR for chemical analysis. Chemicals of particular inte...

Anthropogenic contaminants have been a concern in the Canadian arctic for over 30 years due to relatively high concentrations of bioaccumulating and biomagnifying organochlorine contaminants (OCs) and toxic metals found in some arctic biota and humans. However, few studies have addressed the potential effects of these contaminants in Canadian arctic wildlife. Prior to 1997, biological effects d...

Soil constitutes the central environmental compartment that, primarily due to anthropogenic activities, is recipient of several contaminants. Among these are organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), which major concern, even though they were banned decades ago their persistence and health effects can elicit. In this review, an overview monitoring studies regarding OCPs in soils published over last 30 ...

Organochlorine chemical residues and elemental concentrations were measured in piscivorous and benthivorous fish at 111 sites from large U.S. river basins. Potential contaminant sources such as urban and agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, mine drainage, and irrigation varied among the sampling sites. Our objectives were to provide summary statistics for chemical contaminants and to det...

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides, and mercury are global environmental contaminants that can disrupt the endocrine system in animals and humans. However, there is little evidence that they can interfere with endocrine status in pregnant women and neonates at low levels of exposure. The aim of this study was to examine thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy and in cord b...

The annual global production of farmed salmon has increased by a factor of 40 during the past two decades. Salmon from farms in northern Europe, North America, and Chile are now available widely year-round at relatively low prices. Salmon farms have been criticized for their ecological effects, but the potential human health risks of farmed salmon consumption have not been examined rigorously. ...

Biodegradation of chloroethene compounds has been a matter of intense scientific investigation since these compounds were first identified in the late 1970s as common contaminants in groundwater systems. Over this period, perspectives on chloroethene biodegradation and on the role of organochlorine compounds in the environment have changed substantially. Before 1980, chloroethene contaminants w...

BACKGROUND Thyroid hormones are important regulators of brain development. During critical periods of development, even transient disorders in thyroid hormone availability may lead to profound neurologic impairment. Animal experiments have shown that certain environmental pollutants, including heavy metals and organochlorine compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins, can in...