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1098 (IaA^^ syyAA- E. VOL. 220. DECEMBER 14. 1908 Polychlorinated Biphenyls futhe^Gloha: system by R. W. RISEBROUGH P. RIECHE . ' . Institute of Marine Resources, University of California, Berkeley 94720 D. B. PEAKALL Division of Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14750 S. G. HERMAN Department of Zoology, University of California, Davis 95516 M. N. KIRVEN San Diego Natural History Museum, PO Box 1390, San Diego, California 92112 Polychlorinated biphenyls are widely dis persed in the global ecosystem, and are powerful inducers of hepaticenzymes which degrade oestradiol. Together with other chlorinated biocides, such as DDT, they could account for a large part of the aberration in calcium meta bolism which has been observed in many species of birds since the Second World War. Declining populations of raptorial and fish-eating birds in Great Britain1 and North America* have produced thin-shelled eggs since the poripd nftor the Bopnnd World War. A widesprea7t~eliaiigtrinr tho chemical environment which affected tlio calcium physiology of these species evidently occurred at that time. TheTshlonnated hydro- curbuna, U'llieh came into genorUl -use lli tho ia4Us, may now be the must abundant synthetic pollutants present in-the global environment*. Thin "eggshells have been found only in species which accumulate high concen trations of these compounds: relatively uncontaminated populations of these species continue to produce normal eggs1-*. . Calcium metabolism in birds is intimately related to reproductive metabolism and is to a large extent regulated by steroids such as oestrogen and vitamin D*. The deposition of medullary bono, the chief source of calcium during egg and eggshell formation, is controlled by the steroid sex hormones4*7, and hons deficient in vitamin D lay eggs with lower eggshell weights*. Steroids are hydroxylatcd and thereby degraded in vivo and in vitro by hepatic enzymes induced by exogenous, lipid-soluble substances, including the chlorinated hydrocarbons'-14. Tho relatively small amounts of chlorinated hydro ! carbons required to produce this effect*-11'15'18, and the discovery that small amounts of somo of tho DDT compounds aro oestrogenic'-1*-20, havo mado irrelevant much of the parts per million approach to pollutant ecology based on toxicity data alone. In both Groat Britain11-21 and North Amorica25 it was the decline of the poregrino falcon which initiated concorn about tho extent of tho harmful effects of environmental contamination. In tho United Statos the eastern popu lation was extinct beforo competent observers wore aware of a general, widespread decline25. Breoding peregrines persist in apparently normal numbers in' British Columbia2* and in tho Arctic27-28. In 1967 we collected an unhatohed, abandoned egg of a peregrine falcon in south-western North Amorica, whore a small remnant population remains (unpublished work of M. N. K,, R. W. R. and S. G. H.). Analysis of this egg (Table 1) showed that it contained almost 5 mg of t>,7/-DDE (dichloro-2,2-6is(p-chlorophenyl) othylone). 'Unknown pecks present in tho chromatograms of tho extract of the egg were unidentified until polychlorinatod biphenyls fPCBi wT-re rir-t.r-o.toii in Knropon.n wildlife2*'21. Positive confirmation of tho identification was accom plished by mass spectrometry in Sweden20. Tho retention tiTnes of the unknown peaks in tho peregrine oxtracts proved to be identical with thoso of several PCB com- jflTfmds on DC-200 and columns5 and on a mixed column. Other species of birds and fish wero subsequently analysed for PCB. Tho chlorino content of several extracts and standards was dctorininod with a Dohrman microcouloinotrie detector and a method of quantificat ion of tho PCU compounds was dovisod based on peak heights produced in tho electron,cupturo detector related to standard p.ji'-DDE2. Tho DDT compounds aro destroyed by nitration52 undp.yi'-DDT (1,1,1-triehloro- 2,2-6is(p-chlorophenyl)ethane), DDD (l,l-dichloro-2,2-6w (p-chlorcphenyl)ethane) and toxapheno are dehydrochlorinatod by saponification with alcoholic KOH. PCB is not degraded by either procedure. Table 1. CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS IN NORTH AMERICAN PEREGRINE FALCONS Per Sample Dieldrin Total centage BCB DDT/ DDT* DDE PCB 1. Unhatched eggt Baja California (wet) 0-11 102 97 10-2 10 2. Second year $ migrant from Arctic Breast muscle (wet) NM 09 94 28 Breast muscle (dry) 290 84 3*5 Brain (wet) NM 85 98 21 4*7 Carcass (wet) 0-87 70 93 19-7 3*5 Carcass (lipid) 82-5 5,000 1,420 3. Immature, California^ Breast muscle (wet) NM Liver (wet) NM 14-4 90 7-7 92 9-4 1*5 4-5 1*7 Brain (wet) 0-04 2-8 89 1-5 1*9 Brain (lipid) 0-50 36 19-3 Carcass (wet) Oil 20-2 92 10-8 1*9 Carcass (lipid) 1-6 300 160 4. Adult, California*! Breast nmscle(wet) NM ' 127 87 93 Liver (wet) NM 77 80 67 1*3 1*4 Brain (wet) 0-31 49-5 86 34-6 1*4 Brain (lipid) 3-7 595 415 Carcass (wet) 1-7 85 87 05 1*3 . Carcass (lipid) 50 2,600 1,930 6, Immature',! migrant from Arctic Breast muscle (wet) NM 2-3 81 0-16 14 Breast muscle (dry) 7-8 0-54 Liver (wet) NM 1-0 92 0-10 10 Brain (wet) Body fat (wet) NM 0-43 83 NM 50-3 82 0-037 3-2 12 Id Carcass (wet) 0-07 0-3 82 0-80 12 Carcass (lipid) . 0-44 63-7 5-5 6. Immature Arctic migrant** Breast muscle (wet) NM 1-9 89 0-6 3*4 Breast inusclc<dry) 6-0 1-9 Concentrations in parte per million yet weight, dry weight or lipid weight. DDT residues Include: j>,p'-DDT, p.p'-DDE, p.p'-DDI) (p.p'-TDE), p.p'-PDMIJ, o,p'-DDT and o.p'-DDE. NM, Not measured. t Chlorinated hydrocarbon contents of the egg were: 4,700 pg p.p'-DDF,: 40 Fg o.p'-DDE; 29 pg p,p'-DPT; 7-4 pg p.p'-DDD; 37 pg p.p'-DDMlI; 5 pg dicldrin; 12 pg hcptachlor epoxide. Concentrations were calculated by assuming a volume of 47-3 ml., the average value obtained by measuring eleven clutches of peregrine rggs from California in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, and by assuming a density of 1-0. t Second year female, captured in October on the Texas coast during migration. Died In captivity shortly afterwards, no apparent cause of death. No body fat. Total body content of chlorinated hydrocarbons: 3a mg DDT, 10 mg PCB, 0-44 mg dicldrin, 0-18 mg hcptachlor epoxide. Total body lipid. 7 g. ' l'limngc characteristics of both 3 and 4 were Intermediate between those of typically resident California birds and tile Arctic race i'.p. tundrius, ns described by White". No. 3 was an immature female of the year trapped in the southern San Francisco Bay nrca in the winter of 1900. Observed feeding In the area for a week before capture. Died suddenly after eating a dead gull. Moderate body fat. Total body chlorinated hydrocarbon content: 13 mg DDT, 6-8 mg PCB, 0-07 mg dieldrin, 0 09 mg lieptachlor epoxide. Total body lipid, 43 g. II Adult female. Trapped in the southern San Francisco Bay area in tho winter of 1900. Observed feeding In the area for a month before capture. Died shortly afterwards witli no apparent cause of death and no botiv fat. Total body chlorinated hydrocarbon content: 52 mg DDT, 40 mg BCD, 1-0 lug dieldrin, 1-0 mg heptachlor epoxide. Total body lipid, 20 g. First year female trapped on the Texas coast in October. Lost at l`L Mugu, California, the following January and was allot by a sportsman 3 weeks later. Abundant body fat. Total body content: 7 mg DIVV, 0 tl mg BUB, 0-05 mg dieldrin, 0-17 mg hcptachlor epoxide. Total body lipid, 110 g. First year female trapped on tho Texas coast in October. Died shortly afterwards of heat prostration. In Tnblo 1 nro prosontod tho rositlts of analyses of poregrino falcons which died from a variotv of ear isos DSW 201123 STLCOPCB4059187 NATURE. VOL. 220. Dfc.S-fc.tvitit.i-t i. isuu shortly after ' being trapped fo- rft'conry. Significant amounts of PCB were present i 'retie peregrines only a few months old (Nos. 5 and i>), but higher residues were present in a second year Arctic bird (No. 2) and" exceptionally high residues wero present in an adult trapped in California (No. 4). In birds 2 and 4 the total lipid reserves wero very low, and in both tho brain concentrations of DDE and PCD wero high, perhaps at toxic levels. Fat mobilization during reproduction or in times of starvation or stress could be expected to cause significant changes in the internal distribution of chlori nated hydrocarbons. Steroid hydroxylaso activity in tho liver might increase at this timo. Dieldrin concentrations wero lower than in tho peregrines analysed in Britain, but DDE concentrations wero approximately com parable54. ' Table 2 presents tho results of analyses of peregrine prey species, remains of which were collected at eyries in i Bnja California, Mexico. With tho exception of the remains of ono mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura) and of three fish bats (Pizonyx vivesi), prey material found at four eyries consisted of soa birds. Of these, the cared grebe {Podiccps caspicus) and the black petrel (Loomclania melanin) constituted 32 and 25 per cent, respectively, of tho remains. ' Black petrels, like other petrels and shearwaters (Tabic 3), contained especially high concentrations of both DDT and PCB. Reproductive success in this population of peregrines seems to bo subnormal. In 1968 no pairs were observed to hatch or fledge more than a singlo young. In the past, two to four young, tho number normally produced by healthy peregrines55'57, were raised by each pair (L. W. Walker, personal com munication). The tliiekness of fragments of a peregrine eggshell, with its membrane, collected in 1908 below an eyrie where one young hatched, was 0-24 mm, a decrease of 34 per cent from the mean thickness of 0-34 mm + 0-015 mm (95 per cent confidence level) in twenty-three eggs collected in tho area before 1947. The region is wilderness, with little or no human interference, and is remote from sources of pollution. In California, numbers of breeding peregrines have been reduced by at least 80 per cent in recent years. The remaining few pairs, however, seem to be reproducing normally and rear, when undisturbed, between two and four young each year. They are found, like most of the surviving pairs in Great Britain51-54, in a relatively uncontaminated region and seem to be feeding on birds which contain low concentrations of chlorinated hydro carbons. A pnir v i fledged three young in 19GS fed chiefly on passei. ,s and coltunbiformos during the breeding season. Both prey groups arc relatively un contaminated (M. N. K., It. W. It. nml S. G. If., in preparation). A clutch of eggs collected in this region weighed as much as the eggs obtained in pre-war years, whereas other peregrine eggs from California collected since the Second World War have been thin-shelled (rtf. 2, and D. W. Anderson, D. Hickey and R. F. Christen sen, in preparation). Despite official protection the surviving birds arc still subjected to shooting by sportsmen and to harassment at the eyries. If these could bo effectively reduced the population might yet survive. In Table 3 are presented the results of analyses of marine and terrestrial birds nnd of three species of fresh water fishes for PCB and DDT content and concentration. From tho ratio of total DDT to PCB, it is apparent that regional fallout patterns exist. In most of the birds TTbnT'Suu Pi cuckoo Hay which have been analysed, including peregrine falcons (Tabic 1) nnd eggs of the western gull, the Caspian tern and the black-crowned night heron (Table 3), the ratio was between one and two. Another black-crowned night heron egg had a typically "ocean" profile, suggesting that the adult female had wintered along tho coast. In most of the birds from the Farallon Islands, which are 27 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge, this ratio was between 2 and 5. In the Gulf of Panama, where PCB contamination might come from tho Canal Zone and industrial areas in Panama City, the ratio is between 1 and 2 (Table 3). In the Gulf of California, a region relatively remote from the sources of either DDT or PCB contamination, the ratio was in most cases approximately 9 or 10. This was true in tho egg of tho peregrine falcon (Table 1), in all of tho black petrels and least petrels analysed, in the Craveri's murrelets (Table 2), in five of six osprey eggs and in six of seven western gull eggs (Table 3). Among tho exceptions the fish bat, with low concentrations of both DDT and PCB, was the most divergent, with a ratio of 43 (Tablo 2). It is not clear whether this reflects differences between avian and mammalian physiology or a fundamental difference in feeding habits. The other exceptions include species which are present in the area only during the breeding season (Table 2). In sea birds from the Pacific the ratio was usually. between 6 and 10 (Table 3). PCB was not found in eggs . of the Aflelio penguin from Cape Crozier, Antarctica. Table 2. ICB ANB BBT IN PREY SPECIES OF rEREQRINE FALCONS IN THE GCXF OF CALIFORNIA Species* DDT DDT Percentage PCB K ' (pb) (p.p.m.) DDE (MS) PCB (p.p.m.) DDTJ PCB Eared grebe (13) Whole body Black petrel (10) Whole body Least petrel (0) Whole body Eggs Fish bat (3) Whole body Cravcri's murrelct (2) Egg* (one clutch) Whole body, adult Whole body, adult S *-- . 8 810 ' (685-1,344) 3 0ft 2 SO (23-37) 7 25 (15-31) 2 2301 (223-238) 1 37-1 1 295 0-28, 0-26, 12-1 0*2 (W) 3-2 CV7) 0'71 (W) 30(1) 0-31 (W) 2-4 (W) 07 81 83 84 52 80 85 85 HMt -- 3-1 (1*2-50) 0-58 (0-45-1-00) -- -- " 1-0 (W) (0*00-1*14) - __ 9*2 0*35 (W) 0*02 CW) 9*3 10 43 4*5 (L) 0*030 (W) 0*26 (W) __ 8*7 7*0 9*2 Elegant tern (1) Eggs Hecrmanu** cull (1) Eggs . 8 15-5 (0*5-24 *3) 3 195 (04-278) 5-0 a> 48 (L) 00 05 -- 1*5 (L) (0-8-3-6) 8*1 (L) (3-5-11*3) .. 3*9 . 5*9 Content In ;ig of whole bodies and eggs; concentrations In p.p.m. wet weight (W) or lipid weight (I,). . AH specimens were collected In the vicinity of four peregrine eyries In Bnja California. Ttumbcrs In parentheses arc the number of remains of each prey species which were found at the eyries. Also found wero remains of one cormorant (Phnlacrocorax tp), one red phal.vropc (Phalaropus fulieanus), one northern phalarope (Lobipes lobatus) and one mourning dnvp (Zrncidura macroura), but local specimens of these specic3 were not analysed. .Eggs of least petrels, elegant terns and Hecrraann's gulls were from different clutches. Eared grebe: Podiccps caspicusi black petrel: Loomclania melania: least petrel: Ualocyptcna microsoma\ fish bat: Pisor.yx victsi\ Cravcri's murrelct: Endomychura craveri; elegant tem: Thaiasscus clcyans; Uecrmann gull: Earns heermanni. . t Jfot measured. Interfering peats on chromatograms. ` 1 Doth eggs also contained 0-08 p.p.m. dieldrin (lipid weight) and 0 17 p.p.tn. endrln (lipid weight). ' I DSW 201124 i STLCOPCB4059188 1100 NATURE. \ , 220. DECEMBER 14. 1968 Species White crnpplo (1) Black crapplc (2) Eluegill (3) Adelic penguin (4) Eggs N 1 1 1 5 Western grebe (5) Breast muscle Fulmar (6) A B C Pink-footed shearwater (7) Sooty shearwater (8) A B C Slender-billed shearwater (9) Ashy petrel (10) 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 3 Brown pelican (11) Eggs, Panama A Eggs, Baja California 2 Frigate-bird (12) eggs, Panama Brown booby (13) eggs, Panama Brandt's cormorant (14) eggs Pelagic cormorant (15) eggs Cinnamon teal (16) White-tailed kite (17) Eggs, clutch A 3 4 17' L'nliatched egg B L'nliatched egg C Clutch I) Clutch K Clutch F Cooper's hawk (18) Golden eagle (19) egg Osprey (2U). Baja California Merlin (21) American kestrel (22) Whole iKMly, adult Eggs, two clutches Black-crowned night heron (23) Egg Egg Western gull (21) Eggs, San Francisco Bay, three clutches Eggs, Farallonls., ten clutches Eggs, Baja Calif., seven clutches 10 7 Forster's tern (25) eggs 2 Caspian tern (28) Eggs. San Francisco Bay Eggs. San Diego Bay 2 5 Bed plialaropc (27) Common mtirre (28) eggs 1 6 Cassln'6 auklet (29) Ancient murrclrt(30) Bhlnoccros auklet (31) Mounting dove (32) Bam owl (33) Eggs, one clutch Eggs.oneclutch Meadowlark (34) 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 Table 3. fob and cut is ti:e global ecosystem Total DDT <J>*) (P.p.m.) Percentage DDE O'8) 1*83 (\V> 2*10 (IV) 5-5 (\V) PCB 0-78 (0*59-1*04) 0*128 (L) 74 <0-044 pg/egg 10.475 2,000 20*4 (W) 0*41 (W) 3*4 (W) 17*5 (W) 3*0 (W) 5 . '-- 76 89 __ --. 96 3,900 93 277 1,205 12*3 (W) 10*3 (W) 2*3 (W) 32*0 (W) 94 86 85 92 __ ---- NM . 2,158 69*3 (W) 95 . 380 (1,644-2,826) (298-482) 59 (18-183) 63 (47-59) 9*6, 8*7, 30*0 11*5 (L) 10*0 (L) -- 61 (47-78) 81 88 23*1 (18-30) 10*4 (9*0-11*7) 8*4, 5*7, 81*0 20*8 (16*4-24*5) 326 128 (125-130) 4,340 8*2 (L) --. __ 10-9 (\V) 89 12*2 (6*5-18*9) 91 113 90 . 62 j (48-75) 70 11*4 (9-8-12*9) 5*1 5*3 8*3/egg 10-2/egg 31-0/egg 8,500 150 127 (30-204) 435 0*76 (W) 0*34 (57) 0-35 <\V) -- 9*0 (L) --25*2 (W) 2*0 (5V) 65 (L) 2*9 (W) 77 82 73 82 57 80 90 - 98 85 94 . 6*4 (5-S-7-8) j 0-84 ! 3*0 - 4-3/cgg . 4*0/egg i 8-8/egg ' 17*5 (7*3, 3*0.103) (24,7*0,19) 55*4 5*1 .2-4/egg 0 044 0*20 (5V) 39 93 3*7 1'0/cgg . 541 809 803 (632-1,123) 4121102 _ 89 -- 99 _ ' 85 -- 89 330 ; 23 805 (580-1,310) ; 136 + 55 3851230 _-- - 97 | 45 + 30 (p.p.m.) 0-004 (W) 0-003 0-005 0*093 (5V) 0*08 <W) 0*34 (57) 6*5 (55') 0*42 (57) 1*2 (55') 0*9 (5V) 2*1 (5V) 9*8 (5V) --, .-- 4*8 (L) 0-91 _ __ . __ 6-3 0-23--(VT) 0*39 OV) 0-031 0-09 (W) -- __ -- -- 665 (593-732) 1,269 (1,210-1,322) 1,430 (991-2,430) 1,945 (932-3,021) 12*0, 33*1 27*7/egg 143/cgg 21*2,448 --- -- 0*78 (W) 151 (L) 5*8 (W) 0*75 2*7 0*19 (W) 1*25 (57) 6*6 (57) 018, 3*3 (W) 89 - 89 68 ' 79 90 98 90 97 77,93 95 96 77,93 114 (91-137) 805 (600-950) ' 1,010 558 (364-_1_,010) i __ ; __ Not detected 10-4/egg : 14*4/egg 2*5,281 __ 0*10 45 (L> 0*16 0*15 0*36 -- 0*47 (57) 0*00 (57) -- DDT,'PCB 475 600 1,200 >18 270 5 1o0-7 7-2 10 lrt 15 . 6-5 1-55 (0-97-3-2) C-5.4-0 M, 1-5.0-4 1*7 2-d 2-1 12 1*8 6-0 1*5 2-0 2-6 8-5 4-0 8*5 8*5,10-1.1*3, 11-2,0-7.n-i 12-7 1*4 2*3 1*0 36 1*0 3*0 10-7,10-5 5*8 1*7 1*4 8 3*3 36 5 8 2-7 10 8*4,15-9 columns ot lcrw ***aIK:Cincd' ailal>'3e8 " ere of whole bodies. Endrin and dicldrln were Identified on the basis of retention times on both QF-1 and DC-200 1. FumuzU annularu. 284 g. Clear Lake. Lake Co., Calif., May 1908. 2. Pomoxi* nigroinacululM, 212 g, Clear Lake, Lake Co.. Calif., Mav 1968. 3. I.rpumin marrochirm, 229 g. Clear Lake, Lake Co., Calif., May 1908. 4. Pu'jnmlit tKleliat, (.'ape Crozicr, Antarctica, October 1907. 5. Aechmoplwritt occhlenlalit. Clear Like. Lake Co.. Culif., May 1908. : 6. Fulmauut (jladnli). A and ft: Monterey Bay, Calif., November 1, 1906. C: Point Bcyes. Calif., December 1907. Fulmars breed In Alaska. 7. J ttjfi it us cmitopiw. Breeds In Chile. Collected In May 1903, in the Gulf of California 8. PuJJmu* urutu*. Breeds in New Zealand and Chile. A ami IP. Monterey Bay, November 1, 1906. C: Gulf of California, May 1903. XM. Not measured, interferin'* peaks. * *J 9. PvJTmn* tnnuiTOHlri*. Broods In Australia. Monterey Buy, December 19C0 10. Ocrunodrotiia /lomnrhroa. l'araUon Islands, Calif., May 1908. ' 11. J*tU'raaun ticcidentalis. Panama eggs were collected on Isla Pacheca and Isla Paeheqndla, Gulf of Panama, Fcbruarv 1068. One egg contained 0-09 p.p.m. dieldrin and 0-00 p.p.m. endrin, another contained 0-16 p.p.m. dlcidrin and 0*07 p.p.m. endrin (lipid weight). Baja California egr* were collected at Bulua de los Anodes. March 1908. One egg contained 0*24 p.p.m. dieldrin And 1*13 p.p.m. endrin (lipid weight). 12. Fr.c..-.j.a. ta...v..u..t../.jnificent. Js!a Pacheca. Panama, l'chruary 1908. to/ 13. SvtahHMjnktfT. Isl.a Pacheca am! Isla Pac*hetjnilla, Panama February 1308. Two cgg9 were analysed for dieldrin and endrin. Dicldrln: 0*08, 0-18 p.p.m.; endrin: 0-00 and 0-011 p.p.m. (lipid weight). 14. PhalacwortiT jimi'-Ulatus. 1`arallon Islands* May 1907. 15. PluiOirromni r p-Iuijirmr. San Mateo Co., Calif. 10. ntHHoptrm. San Diego, April 1908. Adult male. . 1#. JilfiifUK IntrttrH*.' A: Contra Costa Co., Calif., April 1908. Ji and C: Contra Costn Co., May 1908, two and three young raised, respectively. D: Amindoned. * outra Costa Co., May 1907. /,,' and F\ Destroyed nests, Contra Costa Co., March 1908. : \ : . ) : i 1 i < i i \ ! ^ : ' * , . ] * DSW 201125 1i w t\ : tl h it M t* r i: * y t, ti T M i> w j-; *h (* ti It. fr ' it: r i: C 11 li ft h u r. an* it* c` > ti ll r r 'i a h it STLCOPCB4059189 NATURE. VOL. 220. DECEMUhK I A. iaoa 1 lOl ' ' Table 3 (continued) IS {rripiter rmperii. Ifcilhrci Park, Diego, February 1 MM. First year female, died of trichoma :i, 10 `MmUi'ehrytaetM. San Luis Obispo Co., Calif., April 10G8. Unhatchcd egg in nc3t whero one young was raised. Egg also contained 4-7 fig of " * ditldrin, 1-0 ng of la'i'tactdor epoxide, but no endrin. *>(1 J'nndinn hnlinrlm. C.itlf of California, March 19G8. One egg also contained 0-10 p.p.in. dieldrin and 0-25 p.p.m. endrin (L). '[" J-c/ru cohnnl/itriut. linniature, Utah, December 1007. r,V yn<r0 jnorreriin. Adult was killed on road, Mendocino Co., Calif., Dcccmlcr 10G7. Eggs from Davis, California, 1008. "i" \vrtiearaz n'rtfcoraz. Eggs from different clutches, San Francisco Bay, May 1037. 24". iJirvt aceid/ntalin. Standard errors. 05 per cent confidence limits. ' 25. X.Vrna/oraicri. San Diego Bay, May 19G7. 23. I[ndrf'prr*9tu rntpia, 1007. __ ,,,,,,,, 27. 1`Mart.pvtfvlirnrivt. Monterey Bay,November 1, 1906. 2*. Kria an'.yr. Farailon Islands, liay 10G7. "0 n-ichtiramphu* aUulicva. Farallon Islands, Aprd 100G. :I0 S'liilhlUtQTawphus antiquum. .Monterey Bay, November 1, 1060. 31. Ctrnrhinra mwicrratn. Monterey Bay, November 1, 1000. go Zfnnitiuro iiiccrourc. San Diego, July 1008. 33 T'jln alba Cluteh A from Contra Costa Co., Calif., March 1968. Clutch JS from Yolo Co.. Calif., April 1908. 3j! .Murnrlla nefMa. Davis, Calif., December 1907. Iii these, however, the amount of DDT was very low; species of raptors do not accumulato high amounts of with a DDTtPCB ratio of 18, no PCB would have been the organo-chlorine compounds (Tablo 3), a result of the <|i-ti-cted. A larger amount of fat material from Antarctic very low residuo levels usually found in their prey. orjianisms, which would contain more DDT, would American kestrels and bam owls are common residents of therefore have to be analysed before concluding that PCB California cities. The white-tailed kite, which was lias not yet reached the Antarctic. . _ near extinction 40 years ago in California, is now abundant Individuals of species resident in industrial areas have, in areas where insecticide use is intense, yet because it ns expected, higher PCB levels than individuals of the preys primarily upon tho short-lived and herbivorous mi me species from more remote regions. Analysis of vole, Microtus, the species accumulates very little DDT ten eggs from ten clutches of the western gull from the or PCB (Table 3). Farallon Islands showed an average PCB content of Previous work19 has shown that both DDT and dieldrin i:i<i 55 ug (05 per cent confidence level). PCB content induce hepatic enzymes in tho pigeon which, in an in of four eggs from three clutches from an island in San . vitro preparation, increase the metabolism of progesterone Francisco Bay averaged 805 pg with a range from 580 - and testosterone. This work has now' been extended to to 1,310 ('fable 3). Seven eggs from seven clutches in , study the metabolism of oestradiol by enzymes induced the Gulf of California contained 45 30 pg of PCB. I by p,p'-DDE, technical DDT (Dupont) and PCB (`Aroclor Tin- DDT content of the eggs from the Farallons was not l|i 1262'). The experimental procedure previously described18 significantly different from that of the Baja California 1 was followed except that the chlorinated hydrocarbons CgL'S. . . . were injected intramuscularly rather than given orally, Birds from the Gulf of California also contain dieldrin and in the separation of oestradiol and its metabolites and endrin (Tables 2 and 3), but the number of analyse the solvent system used was the upper layer of a mixture is as yet insufficient to compare their relative abundance , of benzene1 heptane: methanol: water 7:3:8:2. The strips with that of DDT and PCB. Despite the inability of the | were monitored with an autographic strip scanner. The Sin-11 Chemical Company to find any chlorinated liydrocar- j profiles obtained for the various inducing agents are lions in the Gulf of California and at the mouth of the f shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the profiles of the Colorado River31, which drains into the Gulf, it is likely! metabolites obtained after enzymo induction using DDE that some do enter from the Colorado River and from and DDT are identical, but that a different metabolite agricultural areas in western Mexico. A significant is produced by the enzyme induced by PCB. The amount fraction, however, must come from the atmosphere3", of metabolites formed was calculated from the radio vA and air transport best explains the presence of PCB in activity of the peaks. The results obtained are given in remote areas. In extracts from the Gulf of California Table 4. one PCB compound was present in relatively small n concentrations. This compound is readily degraded by Table 4. INCREASE OF OESTRADIOL METABOLISM BY PIGEON LIVER HOMO- ultraviolet light irradiation in laboratory experiments, OENATES FROM BIRDS TREATED WITH VARIOUS CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS and may therefore be selectively degraded in the Amount or polar metabolites formed in mpmoles atmosphere. Although PCB is not soluble in water, it Control 29-3 6-5 has a low but finite vapour pressure37. Incineration of DDE(40mg/kgl . 70-2 13-1 materials containing PCB would greatly increase the DDT (40 mg/kg) PCB (20 mg/kg) 93-1 11-2 160-0 10-5 rate of entry into the atmosphere. PCB is used in the 1 Each figure is the average with standard deviation of a group of four " manufacture of many industrial products, so the high birds. In ail cases 500 mpmolcs of oestradiol-6,7-T (500 mCi/mmoIe) was amounts found in San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound3 present in the incubation mixture. Incubation time 30 min, weight of microsomal fraction used 300 mg. All chlorinated hydrocarbons were and San Diego Bay presumably result from direct discharge injected intramuscularly into the pectoral muscle 7 days before death. of industrial wastes into these waters and from local fallout. Body concentrations of 40 p.p.in. of p.p'-DDE signifi The presenco of PCB in the few land birds and fresh cantly increased the rate of oestradiol degradation by water fish analysed indicates that it is also distributed the induced enzymes in the experimental conditions. among continental ecosystems in North America. Pere On a weight basis the PCB preparation had an oestradiol grines could therefore acquire PCB, as well as tho other degrading potential approximately five times that of chlorinated hydrocarbons, over all their global range. p.p'-DDE or technical DDT. Both DDE and PCB, No PCB residue data arc available for prey species from which are apparently tho most abundant of the chlorinated the Atlantic, but compounds which seem to be PCB hydrocarbon pollutants in tho global ecosystem, have have been isolated from seals59. A second year male therefore tho capacity to produce sublethal physiological . peregrine spent the winter of 1907-68 on Isla Fachcca, effects in birds. Panama, where the pelican, booby and frigate-bird eggs of Studies on the activity of induced enzymes in the rat Table 3 were collected. The Cooper's hawk which was at various times after a single injection of DDT or analysed, a species which also preys upon birds, contained dieldrin have been mado by Ghazni el at.2'. He found high residues of both DDT and PCB (Tablo 3). Cooper's that it took 70 days for tho activity to fall to half its hawks have declined in eastern North America and in maximum value in the caso of DDT and 15 days in the some regions liavo produced tly'n-shclled eggs34. Several caso of dioldrin. Experiments with dieldrin on pigeons DSW 201126 STLCOPCB4059190 1 102 NATURE, v 220. DECEMBER 14. 1968 CONTROL This work was supported by tho US National Science Foundatipiv-tftc .bureau of sport FisherieTrmd Wildlife and^fchtfUS Public Health Service. Pure supplied by the Federal Drug Administration, and samples ''"`Aroclor' by the Monsanto Chemical Company. Receive st20: revised November 14.1968. I RatclifTe, D. A., Aafure.215, 20S (1907). Hickey, J. J,, mid Anderson, D. V., Science, 162, 271 (1908). Risebrougli, R. W., In Chemical Fallout, First Rochester Conference on Tonicity (In the press, 1908). Simkiss, K., Calcium in Reproductive Physiology (Rcinhold, Kciv York. 1907). Simkiss, K,, Biol. Rev., 30, 321 (1901). Clavcrt, J., and Benoit, J., CR Soc. Biol., Paris, 136, 509 (1942). Ryes, P., and Potter, T. S., Anal. Rec., 60. 377 (1934). Hart, E. B., Stoenbock, H., Lcpkovsky, S., Kletzlcn, S. W. F.. Halpln, J. G,, and Johnson, O. N., J. Biol. Chcm., 65, 579 (1925). Welch, R. M,, Levin, W., and Conncy, A. H., Chemical Fallout, First Rochester Conference on Toxicity (in the press). 14 Hart, L. G., Schultlce, R. W., and Fouts, J. R., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 5, 371 (1903). II Hart, L. G., and Fouts, J. R., Naunyn-Schmiedcberg's Arch. Exp, Path, Pharmakol., 249. 486 (1005). 11 Conney, A. II., Welch, R. Ml., Kuntzman, R,, and Burns, J. J,, Clin Pharmacol. Therap., 8, 2 (1906). ** Conney, A. H., Pharmacol. Rea., 19, 317 (1067). 'Kuprer. D., Residue Rea., 19,11 (1907). 14 Gerboth, G., and Schwabc, U., Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol., 246, 469 (1961). 14 Glllctt, J. V., J. Agric. Food Chcm., 16, 295 (1968). 44 Schivabe, TJ., ArzneimUtel-Forsch.,U, 1205 (1064). 14 Peakall, D. B., Nature, 218, 505 (1907). rig. i. Chromatographic separation of oeatradiol and Its metabolites. The large peak is unaltered oestradiol. 14 Welch, R. M,, Levin, W.. and Conney, A. H., Toxicol Appl. Pharmacol. (In the press). 40 Bitman, J., Cecil, H. C., Harris, S. J., and Fries, G. F., Science, 162, 371 (1988). 41 Ratcliffe, D. A., Brit. Birds?51. 23 (1958). Bhow that only a quarter of maximum activity remains 44 Ratclirre, D. A., Bird Study, 10, 50 (1963). after a month. Thus there is evidence that tho effects of 44 RatelifTe, D. A., Bird Study, 12, 66 (1005). these induced enzymes can persist over a long period of time although more studies are needed to determine the steroid degrading potentials of livers of those species 44 RatclifTe, D. A.. Bird Study, 14, 238 (1907). 45 Hickey, J. J., Peregrine Falcon Populations : Their Biology and" Beeline (University of Wisconsin Press. In the press). 44 Beebe, F. L., Condor, 62, 145 (1900). contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons. The 44 Cade, T. J.,White, C.'M., and Haugh,'J.'R.,fCom7or.'70''170 (1903). profile of the metabolites should be some indication of the history of exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons. . The reductions in eggshell thickness and eggshell weight increase the chances of egg breakage51-24, and 44 Endcrson, J. H., and Berger,rD.[D.,[Conrfor,l70,[149 (1908). 44 Jensen, S.. New Sci., 32,1612 (I960). ' 44 Widmark, G., J. Assoc.JOff. Anal. 0^1.150,11069 (10G7). 41 Holmes, D. C., Simmons, J. H., and Tatton, J. O'G., Nature, 216, 227 (1907). water retention, which affects hatching success40-41, might be impaired. The environment in which birds now exist is therefore no longer tho same as that in which they evolved; it is unlikely that any species has the genetic capacity to meet the selection pressures resulting from the abrupt environmental change which has produced the thin eggshells. Tho peregrine falcon is a species 44 Erro, F., Bevenue'A., and Beckman, H., Bull. Environ. Coni. Toxicol., 372 (1907). 44 White, C. II., Auk. 85,179 (1908). 44 Jefferies, D. J., and Prestt, I., Bril. Birds, 59, 49 (19G6). 44 Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin (A Status Report) (The Shell Chemical Company, 1907). 44 Risebrougli, R. W., Hugget, R. J., Griffin, J. J.. and Goldberg, E.ID., Science, 159,1233 (1008). 44 Tech. Bull. PL-300 (Monsanto Chemical Company). long highly revered and respected. G. H. Thayer42 has described it as "the embodiment of noble rapacity and lonely freedom". An irony therefore exists in tho fact that tho peregrine may be the first species to be extirpated 44 Holden, A. V., and Marsdcn, K-, Nature, 216, 1274 (1907). ' 44 Ghazal, A., Koransky, W., Portig, J., Vohlnnd, H.iW., and Klempnu, I.. Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol., 249, 1 (1904).. 44 Jones, R. E.. and Leopold, A. S., J. JVitdl. Management, 37, 221 (1907). 44 Mayhcw.JW. W,, J. YYildl. Management,^, 30 (1055). by global contamination. 44 Thayer, G.fII., Bird Lore, 6, 47 (1904). Tsunamis on the Moon? by W. G. VAN DORN Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California The spacing of the five annular mountain rings around Mare Orientale fits a dispersion curve for gravity waves on a 50 km "liquid" layer overlying a rigid basement. The question whether tho multiple ring-like mountain structures surrounding most, of tho lunar craters larger than 120 miles iri diameter might be "frozen tsunamis", set in motion by the shook waves caused by impacting planetesimals, was first brought to my attention bv K. B. Baldwin (pemonal communication). Baldwin points out that in several cases (including the giant Mare Imbrium) two or more rings can bo made out DSW 201127 1 1 i r < i t < i * 1 s t i t t r t t !' t 4 t' 4 ! r r i t r 1 r X.' y \ I I t I v t l 'J r. STLCOPCB4059191