Carbofuran and its Toxic Metabolites Provide Forensic Evidence for Furadan Exposure in Vultures (Gyps africanus ) in Kenya

Abstract

Forensic analysis of carbofuran residues in weathered tissue samples for evidence of Furadan exposure in vultures (Gps africanus) by HPLC gave concentration (mg/Kg dry tissue weight) ranges of bdl – 0.07 (carbofuran), bdl – 0.499 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.013–0.147 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in beaks, bdl–0.65 (carbofuran), 0.024–0.190 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.017–0.098 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in feet, 0.179–0.219 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.081–0.093 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in crop content, 0.078–0.082 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.091–0.101 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in muscle of a laced carcass and 0.006–0.014 (carbofuran), 0.590–1.010 (3-ketocarbofuran) and 0.095–0.135 (3-hydroxycarbofuran) in soil sampled from a poisoning site. These compounds were confirmed by GC-MS. The results showed that HPLC combined with GC-MS is suitable for forensic analysis of carbofuran residues in bird tissue samples and that forensic investigation should include its two toxic metabolites, 3-hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran.