Birds cyanide

Table 15.4 Cyanide Effects on Selected Species of Birds...

Proposed free cyanide criteria suggest that sensitive species of aquatic organisms are protected at <3 pg/L birds and livestock at <100 mg/kg diet and human health at concentrations of <10 pg/L drinking water, <50 mg/kg diet, and <5 mg/m3 air (Eisler 1991) (Table 15.6). In aquatic systems, research is needed in several areas ... 

Clark, L. and PS. Shah. 1993. Chemical bird repellents possible use in cyanide ponds. Jour. Wildl. Manage. 57 657-664. 

Henny, C.J., RJ. Hallock, and E.F. Hill. 1994. Cyanide and migratory birds at gold mines in Nevada, USA. Ecotoxicology 3 45-48. 

Westley, J. 1988. Mammalian cyanide detoxification with sulphane sulphur. Pages 201-218 in D. Evered and S. Harnett (eds.). Cyanide Compounds in Biology. Ciba Found. Sympos. 140. John Wiley, Chichester. Wiemeyer, S.N., E.F. Hill, J.W. Carpenter, and A.J. Krynitsky. 1986. Acute oral toxicity of sodium cyanide in birds. Jour. Wildl. Dis. 22 538-546. 

PCB organic compounds found as soil and water contaminants continue to grow each year. They include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phenols, cyanides, plasticizers, solvents, and numerous industrial chemicals. PCBs were historically used as coolants in electrical transformers and are also known by-products of the plastic, lubricant, rubber, and paper industries. They are stable, lipophilic, and break down only slowly in tissues. Because of these properties they accumulate to high concentrations in fish and waterfowl in 1969 PCBs were responsible for the death of thousands of birds in the Irish Sea. 

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