Pesticide Residues in the Eggs of Peregrine Falcons and Other Wild Bird Species in Baden-Württemberg Present State and Time Trend Dr. K. Theo von der Trenck, Referat 23 – Biomonitoring

The German State of Baden-Wuerttemberg

Ecological Effect Survey Program Media-Embracing Biological Monitoring Network State-wide measuring and assessment of Pollutant concentrations Adverse effects Species diversity Climatic change

Pollutants (DDT, HCB, HCEP, HCH, PBDE, PCB, PCDD/F ) Accumulation in Biota Dangerous Effects Toxicity, Mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity, Teratogenicity, Endocrine Disruption Persistence in the Environment Necessity to monitor and control

Pollutants and their Origin (e.g. DDT, HCB, HCEP, HCH, PBDE, PCB, PCDD/F ) Organochlorine Pesticides agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, human medicine PCBs insulating materials in electrical capacitors and transformers, plasticizers in waxes, paper manufacturing, hydraulic fluids and heat exchange fluids, components of flame retardants, sealants, and lacquers PCDD/Fs combustion of organic materials (+ chlorine) HCB combustion of organic materials (+ chlorine)

Physical / Chemical Properties of POPs Low Water Solubility High Lipid Solubility High Resistence to Degradation Low Vapor Pressure evaporation from aqueous solution long range atmospheric transport Global Distribution Ubiquitous occurrence with marked bioaccumulation especially in lipophilic compartments

Global Distillation of POPs

Stepwise Ban on Organochlorine Compounds in Germany Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)1972 Aldrin, Dieldrin1974 Hexachlorobenzene 1977 Technical Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) 1978 Endrin 1982 Heptachlor / Heptachloroepoxide1982 Polychlorinated Biphenyls1983

Organochlorine Pollution of Eggs (2001): Peregrine Falcon > Eagle Owl > Barn Owl > Little Owl Jackdaw > Great Tit Blue-Bonnet > Coal Tit Terrestrial (Avian) Food Chain

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the most highly polluted bird species within the project (Photo: B. Zoller).

DDE in Peregrine Eggs - Time Trend DDE [µg/g d. m. with std. dev., left scale] in eggs of peregrine falcons from Baden-Württemberg. The egg shell index ( right scale) is related to shell thickness.

---RHmV: 0.05 mg/kg HCB in Peregrine Eggs - Time Trend

Lindane in Peregrine Eggs - Time Trend ---RHmV: 0.3 mg/kg

Heptachloroepoxide in Peregrine Eggs Time Trend ---RHMV: 0.05 mg/kg

PCB in Peregrine Eggs – Time Trend

Dioxin Equivalents in Selected Peregrine Eggs from Four Years

DDE in Peregrine Eggs - Time Trend DDE [µg/g d. m. with std. dev., left scale] in eggs of peregrine falcons from Baden-Württemberg. The egg shell index ( right scale) is related to shell thickness.

Average Organochlorine Pollution of Peregrine Eggs from Six Ecoregions (2001 – 2003)

Long term effects of DDT DDT first synthesized in Germany years latency period Discovery of DDTs insecticidal action (P. Müller) years action period Peregrine falcons extinct in most German states German ban on DDT years recovery period Germany still troubled by DDT from remote continents2005 DDT problem solved ????

Pesticide Residues in the Eggs of Peregrine Falcons and Other Wild Bird Species in Baden-Württemberg Present State and Time Trend Friedrich Schilling (Nürtingen) Dr. Frank Baum, Dr. Rainer Malisch (Freiburg) Heiner Hartwig, Professor Dr. Ralf-D. Zimmermann (Bingen) Ruth Baumann, Dr. Hans-Peter Straub, Kurt Wildenmann (LfU) Dr. K. Theo von der Trenck, Referat 23 – Biomonitoring

Substances Measured Aldrin and its epoxide (dieldrin) Chlordan Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites Endosulfan Endrin Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) Heptachlor and its epoxide (HCEP) Different conformers of Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) 21 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Started in 2003: 9 congeners of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)