Organochlorine pesticide residues in feathers of four bird species from western part of Turkey

The use of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) has decreased considerably worldwide; they have been banned in most countries due to adverse impacts on wildlife. The purpose of the study was to investigate OCP residue levels in wild birds from Aegean, Marmara, Mediterranean, and Central Anatolia geographical regions of Turkey. Feather samples (n = 80) of four bird species in four regions were collected from anthropogenically dead birds such as roadkill and wind turbine collision. Feather samples were analysed using GC/MS and scanned for 23 pesticide congeners. Analysis results showed dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorocyclopentadiene (HCCPD), and their derivatives were present in almost all samples at high levels. Regions and birds differed significantly as well as among themselves in terms of total residue levels (P < 0.05). The Marmara region (36.257 ng/g) and the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) (55.109 ng/g) had the highest residue levels compared with others. The study shows that OCP residues reach a considerable level in birds and other wild threatened species populations. The results also indicate that the feather can be used for terrestrial pesticide monitoring as a nondestructive method.