Observations on PCBs and mercury in common loons (Gavia immer) collected from southwestern Lake Michigan

The death of common loons (Gavia immer) was associated with a small spill of bunker-C oil off the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. Petroleum oil was not found on the feathers or in the lungs of the birds. Botulinus toxins C and E were found in heart blood. Because the carcasses were autolysed, botulism toxins could have been produced postmortem. An average of 97 micrograms PCBs (Aroclor 1254 standard) and 2.2 micrograms dieldrin/g of body fat also were found. Concentrations of heavy metals in one bird were 0.25 microgram of total mercury and 0.5 microgram of lead/g of liver, respectively. The loons had abundant body fat suggesting they were not debilitated at the time of death.