The Oriental white-backed vulture (OWBV; Gyps bengalensis) was once one of the most common raptors in the Indian subcontinent A population decline of >95%, starting in the 1990s, was first noted at Keoladeo National Park, India Since then, catastrophic declines, also involving Gyps indicus and Gyps tenuirostris, have continued to be reported across the subcontinent Consequently these vultures are now listed as critically endangered by BirdLife International In 2000, the Peregrine Fund initiated its Asian Vulture Crisis Project with the Ornithological Society of Pakistan, establishing study sites at 16 OWBV colonies in the Kasur, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh-Layyah Districts of Pakistan to measure mortality at over 2,400 active nest sites Between 2000 and 2003, high annual adult and subadult mortality (5-86%) and resulting population declines (34-95%) (ref 5 and MG, manuscript in preparation) were associated with renal failure and visceral gout Here, we provide results that directly correlate residues of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac with renal failure Diclofenac residues and renal disease were reproduced experimentally in OWBVs by direct oral exposure and through feeding vultures diclofenac-treated livestock We propose that residues of veterinary diclofenac are responsible for the OWBV decline

http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/researchers/uploads/200/oaks_et_al_2004.pdf

Diclofenac residues as the cause of vulture population decline in Pakistan

Trace metal concentrations in aquatic invertebrates: why and so what?

Many wildlife species may be exposed to biologically active concentrations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals There is strong evidence obtained from laboratory studies showing the potential of seve

https://push-zb.helmholtz-muenchen.de/deliver.php?id=2568

Health Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Wildlife, with Special Reference to the European Situation

Review of selenium toxicity in the aquatic food chain.

Bioaccumulation of mercury in pelagic freshwater food webs

Residue Analyses: How They Were Used to Assess the Hazards of Contaminants to Wildlife, J.O. Keith DDT, DDD, and DDE in Birds, L.J. Blus Dieldrin and Other Cyclodiene Pesticides in Wildlife, D.B. Peakall Other Organochlorine Pesticides in Birds, S.N. Wiemeyer PCBs in Aquatic Organisms, A.J. Niimi Toxicological Implications of PCB Residues in Mammals, M.A. Kamrin and R.K. Ringer PCBs and Dioxins in Birds, D.J. Hoffman, C.P. Rice, and T.J. Kubiak Dioxins: An Environmental Risk for Fish? D. Sijm and A. Opperhuizen Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Marine Mammals, Finfish, and Molluscs, J. Hellou Lead in Waterfowl, D.J. Pain Interpretation of Tissue Lead Residues in Birds Other Than Waterfowl, J.C. Franson Lead in Mammals, W.-C. Ma Toxicological Significance of Mercury in Freshwater Fish, J.G. Wiener and D.J. Spry Mercury in Birds and Terrestrial Mammals, D.R. Thompson Metals in Marine Mammals, R.J. Law Cadmium in Small Mammals, J.A. Cooke and M.S. Johnson Cadmium in Birds, R.W. Furness Heavy Metals in Aquatic Invertebrates, P.S. Rainbow Selenium in Aquatic Organisms, A.D. Lemly Selenium in Birds, G.H. Heinz Fluoride in Birds, W.J. Fleming Fluoride in Small Mammals, J.A. Cooke, I.C. Boulton, and M.S. Johnson

/pdf/environmental-contaminants-in-wildlife-interpreting-tissue-4yboamevo7.pdf

Environmental contaminants in wildlife: interpreting tissue concentrations

/pdf/introduction-to-environmentalcontaminants-in-biota-2nd-29qshcol5f.pdf

W. Nelson Beyer

Papers

Environmental contaminants in wildlife: interpreting tissue concentrations

Introduction to “EnvironmentalContaminants in Biota, 2nd edition”