We undertake many research activities in support of the mission of the Department of the Interior. One such activity is to evaluate the potential hazard and risk of environmental contaminants to natural resources.
The Challenge: The Department of the Interior has extensive responsibilities for management of fish and wildlife, and their supporting habitat. Stewardship activities include assessment of potentially adverse effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on biota, including chemical contaminants. We assist by providing scientific information to support development of federal guidelines, regulations and statutes. We identify and communicate information on the exposure and effects of contaminants in wildlife so that responsible agencies may take action to prevent or mitigate adverse effects and remediate polluted habitats.
The Science: The Department of the Interior serves on the Interagency Testing Committee of the Toxic Substances Control Act that gathers information on the fate and environmental effects of various contaminants to help set priorities for the US Environmental
Protection Agency. As a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the validation of Alternative Methods, we provide perspective on the development and regulatory value of toxicological methods that minimize the number of animal subjects used, or replace test subjects altogether by use of in vitro test methods. We also assist the Fish and Wildlife Service though expert opinion on the testing and potential toxicity of various shot and shot coatings used in hunting, and their hazard when ingested by waterfowl and raptors, including the California condor.
The Future: The potential hazards and ecotoxicological data gaps related to surfactants, certain metals and persistent bioaccumulative toxicants continue to be brought to the attention of the Interagency Testing Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency. Information on new types of shot and shot coating to be used in hunting of waterfowl have been evaluated, and now take the place of lead shot that posed hazard to waterfowl and other wildlife. Adverse outcome pathways are being developed for use in ecological risk assessments. Various reviews (e.g., anticoagulant hazards to non-target wildlife) and databases (e.g., the Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog) on toxicity of chemicals to wildlife continue to be compiled and used by risk assessors and natural resource managers.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog
Below are publications associated with this project.
Alternative approaches to vertebrate ecotoxicity tests in the 21st century: A review of developments over the last 2 decades and current status
Use of terrestrial field studies in the derivation of bioaccumulation potential of chemicals
Interactive effects of climate change with nutrients, mercury, and freshwater acidification on key taxa in the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative region
Adverse outcome pathway and risks of anticoagulant rodenticides to predatory wildlife
Copper pellets simulating oral exposure to copper ammunition: Absence of toxicity in American kestrels (Falco sparverius)
Wildlife toxicology: environmental contaminants and their national and international regulation
The toll of toxics: investigating environmental contaminants
Technical review of the sources and implications of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on natural resources
Sources and implications of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on natural resources
Management concerns about known and potential impacts of lead use in shooting and in fishing activities
Migratory bird hunting: Revised test protocol for nontoxic approval procedures for shot and shot coating; Final rule
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
We undertake many research activities in support of the mission of the Department of the Interior. One such activity is to evaluate the potential hazard and risk of environmental contaminants to natural resources.
The Challenge: The Department of the Interior has extensive responsibilities for management of fish and wildlife, and their supporting habitat. Stewardship activities include assessment of potentially adverse effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on biota, including chemical contaminants. We assist by providing scientific information to support development of federal guidelines, regulations and statutes. We identify and communicate information on the exposure and effects of contaminants in wildlife so that responsible agencies may take action to prevent or mitigate adverse effects and remediate polluted habitats.
The Science: The Department of the Interior serves on the Interagency Testing Committee of the Toxic Substances Control Act that gathers information on the fate and environmental effects of various contaminants to help set priorities for the US Environmental
Protection Agency. As a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the validation of Alternative Methods, we provide perspective on the development and regulatory value of toxicological methods that minimize the number of animal subjects used, or replace test subjects altogether by use of in vitro test methods. We also assist the Fish and Wildlife Service though expert opinion on the testing and potential toxicity of various shot and shot coatings used in hunting, and their hazard when ingested by waterfowl and raptors, including the California condor.The Future: The potential hazards and ecotoxicological data gaps related to surfactants, certain metals and persistent bioaccumulative toxicants continue to be brought to the attention of the Interagency Testing Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency. Information on new types of shot and shot coating to be used in hunting of waterfowl have been evaluated, and now take the place of lead shot that posed hazard to waterfowl and other wildlife. Adverse outcome pathways are being developed for use in ecological risk assessments. Various reviews (e.g., anticoagulant hazards to non-target wildlife) and databases (e.g., the Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog) on toxicity of chemicals to wildlife continue to be compiled and used by risk assessors and natural resource managers.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog
Developed in 2008, the Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog is a portal to wildlife toxicology-oriented websites and databases. The catalog attempts to compile and provide access to website containing information that should be of value to scientists, regulators, natural resource managers, students and other members of the public. The catalog is updated annually. Please contact Barnett Rattner if you... - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Alternative approaches to vertebrate ecotoxicity tests in the 21st century: A review of developments over the last 2 decades and current status
The need for alternative approaches to the use of vertebrate animals for hazard assessment of chemicals and pollutants has become of increasing importance. It is now the first consideration when initiating a vertebrate ecotoxicity test, to ensure that unnecessary use of vertebrate organisms is minimized wherever possible. For some regulatory purposes, the use of vertebrate organisms for environmenAuthorsAdam Lillicrap, Scott Belanger, Natalie Burden, David Du Pasquier, Michelle Embry, Marlies Halder, Mark Lampi, Lucy Lee, Teresa J. Norberg-King, Barnett A. Rattner, Kristin Schirmer, Paul ThomasUse of terrestrial field studies in the derivation of bioaccumulation potential of chemicals
Field-based studies are an essential component of research addressing the behavior of organic chemicals, and a unique line of evidence that can be used to assess bioaccumulation potential in chemical registration programs and aid in development of associated laboratory and modeling efforts. To aid scientific and regulatory discourse on the application of terrestrial field data in this manner, thisAuthorsNico W. van den Brink, Jennifer A. Arblaster, Sarah R. Bowman, Jason M. Conder, John E. Elliott, Mark S. Johnson, Derek C.G. Muir, Tiago Natal-da-Luz, Barnett A. Rattner, Bradley E. Sample, Richard F. ShoreInteractive effects of climate change with nutrients, mercury, and freshwater acidification on key taxa in the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative region
The North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative LCC (NA LCC) is a public–private partnership that provides information to support conservation decisions that may be affected by global climate change (GCC) and other threats. The NA LCC region extends from southeast Virginia to the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Within this region, the US National Climate Assessment documented increases in air tAuthorsAlfred E. Pinkney, Charles T. Driscoll, David C. Evers, Michael J. Hooper, Jeffrey Horan, Jess W. Jones, Rebecca S. Lazarus, Harold G. Marshall, Andrew Milliken, Barnett A. Rattner, John J. Schmerfeld, Donald W. SparlingAdverse outcome pathway and risks of anticoagulant rodenticides to predatory wildlife
Despite a long history of successful use, routine application of some anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) may be at a crossroad due to new regulatory guidelines intended to mitigate risk. An adverse outcome pathway for ARs was developed to identify information gaps and end points to assess the effectiveness of regulations. This framework describes chemical properties of ARs, established macromoleculaAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, Rebecca S. Lazarus, John E. Elliott, Richard F. Shore, Nico van den BrinkCopper pellets simulating oral exposure to copper ammunition: Absence of toxicity in American kestrels (Falco sparverius)
To evaluate the potential toxicity of copper (Cu) in raptors that may consume Cu bullets, shotgun pellets containing Cu, or Cu fragments as they feed on wildlife carcasses, we studied the effects of metallic Cu exposure in a surrogate, the American kestrel (Falco sparverius). Sixteen kestrels were orally administered 5 mg Cu/g body mass in the form of Cu pellets (1.18–2.00 mm in diameter) nine timAuthorsJ. Christian Franson, Lesanna L. Lahner, Carol U. Meteyer, Barnett A. RattnerWildlife toxicology: environmental contaminants and their national and international regulation
No abstract available.AuthorsK. Christiana Grim, Anne Fairbrother, Barnett A. RattnerThe toll of toxics: investigating environmental contaminants
On Earth Day of this year, the British Petroleum-operated Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, 41 miles off the Louisiana coast. The blast killed 11 workers, injured 17, launched a massive oil spill, and triggered an environmental catastrophe—the full impact of which may not be realized for years.AuthorsDonald W. Sparling, Barnett A. Rattner, John S. BarclayTechnical review of the sources and implications of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on natural resources
No abstract available.AuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, J. C. Franson, S.R. Sheffield, C.I. Goddard, N.J. Leonard, D. Stang, P.J. WingateSources and implications of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on natural resources
A technical review of lead sources that originate from hunting, shooting sports, and fishing activities was undertaken by the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society. The report addresses (1) sources of lead that originate from hunting, shooting sports, and fishing activities, (2) the hazard and risk that lead from these activities pose to natural resources, and (3) the management implAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, J. Christian Franson, Steven R. Sheffield, Chris I. Goddard, Nancy J. Leonard, Douglas Stang, Paul J. WingateManagement concerns about known and potential impacts of lead use in shooting and in fishing activities
We present a summary of the technical review, jointly requested by the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society, addressing the hazards to wildlife resulting from lead objects or fragments introduced into aquatic and terrestrial environments from the use of ammunition and fishing tackle. Impacts from lead are well documented in humans, as well as in terrestrial and aquatic organisms. CoAuthorsC.I. Goddard, N.J. Leonard, D.L. Stang, P.J. Wingate, Barnett A. Rattner, J. C. Franson, S.R. SheffieldMigratory bird hunting: Revised test protocol for nontoxic approval procedures for shot and shot coating; Final rule
No abstract available.AuthorsC.M. Perry, K.A. Morehouse, Barnett A. Rattner - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.