ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES AND POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS IN BIRD EGGS FROM THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND NORTHERN GERMANY

The content of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls of 46 eggs of sea, coastal and some inland birds and 47 eggs of comparable north German species was determined quantitatively. The concentration of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in eggs from the Falkland Islands was found to be an order of magnitude lower than those in the eggs of comparable north German species. It is suggested that the levels of pesticides found in eggs from these isolated islands reflect the general global contamination level. In contrast with Europe, where the situation is very complex, the consequences of individual changes in local industry and society can be clearly followed in the contamination levels of the eggs. © 1979.