Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Comparative Developmental Toxicity Of Planar Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners In Chickens, American Kestrels, And Common Terns, David J. Hoffman, Mark J. Melancon, Patrice N. Klein, John D. Eisemann, James W. Spann

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, PCB 126 (3,3′, 4,4′, 5-pentaCB) and PCB 77 (3,3′4,4′-tetraCB), were examined in chicken (Gallus gallus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), and common tern (Sterna hirundo) embryos through hatching, following air cell injections on day 4. PCB 126 caused malformations and edema in chickens starting at 0.3 ppb, in kestrels at 2.3 to 23 ppb, but in terns only at levels affecting hatching success (44 ppb). Extent of edema was most severe in chickens and least in terns. Defects of the beak were common in all species but with …