Canadian Wildlife Service's Herring Gull Monitoring Program: Importance to the development of environmental policy on organohalogens

2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Gilbertson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Environmental Chemistry ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Herring Gull ◽  
Edema Disease ◽  
Candidate Species ◽  
Remedial Actions ◽  
Canadian Wildlife

The biological context for the selection of the herring gull (Larus argentatus), from a long list of candidate species, as an indicator of the restoration of Great Lakes water quality is further elaborated. Embryo mortality and deformities in herring gull chicks led to the hypothesis that the Lake Ontario population was exhibiting chick edema disease. Subsequent observation of the suite of lesions associated with chick edema disease in herring gull chicks led to the hypothesis that the Great Lakes were contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. Forensic toxicology, as a collaboration of environmental chemistry, biology and pathology, could form a rational basis for policy decisions about remedial actions to restore extirpated fish and wildlife populations and to protect public health. Key words: indicator, restoration, diagnosis, forensic toxicology, public health.

A quarter century of environmental surveillance: The Canadian Wildlife Service's Great Lakes Herring Gull Monitoring Program

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
C E Hebert ◽  
R J Norstrom ◽  
DVC Weseloh
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Halogenated Hydrocarbons ◽  
Herring Gull ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
Contaminant Sources

The Great Lakes Herring Gull Monitoring Program has annually provided information concerning levels of environmental contaminants in herring gull eggs since 1974, making it one of the longest running biomonitoring programs in the world. The program was initiated in response to observations of poor reproductive success in colonial waterbirds on the Great Lakes. Initial studies examined the role of halogenated hydrocarbons (HAHs) in causing this reproductive dysfunction. By the late 1970s, reproductive success in herring gulls had improved greatly and emphasis was placed on developing more sensitive indicators to measure the subtle effects associated with HAH exposure. Geographic and temporal trends in Great Lakes contamination were also elucidated. Analysis of herring gull tissues led to the identification of HAHs (mirex, photomirex, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorobenzenes, dioxins) previously undetected in Great Lakes upper trophic level biota. Data collected as part of this program have improved our understanding of contaminant sources and fate in the Great Lakes and have provided us with a means to assess our progress in controlling contaminant inputs. The extensive nature of this dataset has allowed detailed examination of the factors that regulate contaminant levels in this species. Most monitoring programs rely on less extensive datasets for the interpretation of environmental trends and may benefit from the mechanisms identified here. Research has also identified other stressors, e.g., dietary deficiencies, that may affect the success of Great Lakes herring gull populations. Ongoing monitoring of this species will continue to provide new insights into the dynamic Great Lakes ecosystem.Key words: herring gull, Larus argentatus, Great Lakes, environmental monitoring, halogenated hydrocarbons, contaminants.

Public health implications of waste water reuse for fish production

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. El-S. Easa ◽  
M. M. Shereif ◽  
A. I. Shaaban ◽  
K. H. Mancy
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Waste Water ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Fresh Water Fish ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Treated Effluent

Public health and safety concerns have traditionally been the main reasons for resisting waste water reuse for fish farming. Potential adverse health effects in such applications could be avoided if the waste is sufficiently treated before reuse. In a full scale demonstration study in Suez, Egypt, about 400 m3/d of raw sewage were treated using a multi-compartment stabilization pond system, for a total residence time from 21-26 days. The treated effluent conformed to WHO guidelines and was used for rearing two types of local fish (tilapia and gray mullet). The produced fish were subjected to an extensive monitoring program. Bacteriological examination revealed that in all samples the fish muscles were free of bacterial contaminants. Nevertheless, low levels of Escherichia coli andAeromonas hydrophila, were isolated from the surface of the fish. Salmonellae, shigellae and staphylococcus aureus were absent from the surface of all the fish sampled. In addition, toxic metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd) were found to be at much lower levels than the international advisory limits for human consumption. It is concluded that fish reared in the treated effluent at Suez Experimental Station is (a) suitable for marketing for human consumption, and (b) it's quality is equal or better than fresh water fish in Egypt.

Spatial and temporal comparisons of legacy and emerging flame retardants in herring gull eggs from colonies spanning the Laurentian Great Lakes of Canada and United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 720-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanyong Su ◽  
Robert J. Letcher ◽  
Jeremy N. Moore ◽  
Lisa L. Williams ◽  
Pamela A. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Laurentian Great Lakes ◽  
Herring Gull
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