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Chronic effects of the Exxon valdez oil spill on blood and enzyme chemistry of river otters

  1. Lawrence K. Duffy1,*,
  2. R. Terry Bowyer1,
  3. J. Ward Testa2,
  4. James B. Faro3

Article first published online: 21 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620130414

Issue

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Volume 13, Issue 4, pages 643–647, April 1994

Additional Information

How to Cite

Duffy, L. K., Bowyer, R. T., Testa, J. W. and Faro, J. B. (1994), Chronic effects of the Exxon valdez oil spill on blood and enzyme chemistry of river otters. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 13: 643–647. doi: 10.1002/etc.5620130414

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

  2. 2

    Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

  3. 3

    Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 34828 Kahfornsky Beach Road, Suite B, Soldotna, Alaska 99669

*Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 21 OCT 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 16 SEP 1993
  4. Manuscript Received: 24 MAY 1993

Funded by

  • Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks
  • Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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Keywords:

  • Lutra canadensis;
  • Exxon Valdez oil spill;
  • Haptoglobins;
  • Blood enzymes;
  • Chronic effects

Abstract

River otters (Lutra canadensis) living in marine environments of Prince William Sound, Alaska, and exposed to crude oil from the Exxon Valdez spill in March 1989 showed elevated levels of blood haptoglobins, and interleukin-6 ir, as well as elevated activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatine kinase in summer 1991 Stepwise logistic regression, using a subset of these and other blood proteins and enzyme activities as potential independent variables, correctly classified 86 4% of 22 otters as inhabiting oiled or nonoiled areas River otters abandoned latrine sites (an index to their abundance) over three times more often in oiled than in nonoiled areas, suggesting there may have been a delayed response in river otter populations to exposure to crude oil Ours is the first clear model for the long-term effects of an oil spill on blood parameters of a free-rangmg mammal using a nonlethal methodology These effects occurred two years after the spill and following a major effort to clean oil from the shorelines of Prince William Sound

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