Temporal biomarker responses responses in wild passerine birds exposed to pesticide spray drift

摘要

A field study was conducted to assess the degree of exposure experienced by nestling and adult great tits, (Parus major) to spray drift of pirimicarb and dimethoate. Nondestructive assays of serum esterases, serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and carboxylesterase (CbE) were used as exposure biomarkers and measurements of weight gain and survival were made to assess adverse biological effects. Nest boxes were placed in hedgerows bordering fields sprayed with pesticides (either pirimicarb or dimethoate).