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Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in common buzzard (Buteo buteo) from Sicily (Italy)

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the concentrations and distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in intestine, liver, and muscle samples of 11 common buzzards (Buteo buteo) from Sicily used as bioindicator for monitoring pollution in environment. All samples of common buzzards were collected at the “Recovery Center of Wild Fauna” of Palermo, through the Zooprophilactic Institute. Quantitative determination of OCs and PCBs in the samples examined has been carried out using HRGC-ECD and GC-MS. The results obtained show the presence of concentrations of ∑DDT and ∑PCB in almost all samples. Regarding ∑DDT (4,4′-DDE, 2,4′-DDD, 4,4′-DDD, 2,4′-DDT, and 4,4′-DDT), the highest concentrations were found in intestine (0.411 ± 0.050 μg/g) followed by muscle (0.130 ± 0.017 μg/g) and liver samples (0.109 ± 0.014 μg/g). As regards the ∑PCB congeners (PCB-28, PCB-52, PCB-95, PCB-99, PCB-101, PCB-110, PCB-138, PCB-146, PCB-149, PCB-151, PCB-153, PCB-170, PCB-177, PCB-180, PCB-183, and PCB-187), the highest concentrations were found in intestine (1.686 ± 0.144 μg/g) followed by liver (1.064 ± 0.162 μg/g) and muscle samples (0.797 ± 0.078 μg/g). Our data deserve particular attention not only for their significance but especially because they were recorded in Sicily, a region with a very low risk of environmental pollution due to the shortage of industries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Messina, Department of Veterinary Public Health, University of Messina, Polo S. S. Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy

    Patrizia Licata & Francesco Naccari

  2. Department of Food and Environment Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166, Messina, Italy

    Giacomo Dugo, Vincenzo Fotia, Vincenzo Lo Turco, Angela Giorgia Potorti & Giuseppa Di Bella

Authors
  1. Patrizia Licata
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  2. Francesco Naccari
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  3. Giacomo Dugo
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  4. Vincenzo Fotia
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  5. Vincenzo Lo Turco
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  6. Angela Giorgia Potorti
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  7. Giuseppa Di Bella
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Correspondence to Patrizia Licata.

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Licata, P., Naccari, F., Dugo, G. et al. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in common buzzard (Buteo buteo) from Sicily (Italy). Environ Monit Assess 184, 2881–2892 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2157-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2157-9

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