A noninvasive survey reported suspected particles in composite Armenian gull fecal samples, with FTIR support for selected larger particles.
Source details
Erkan Azizoğlu. Toxics. 2026.
Findings
A noninvasive survey reported suspected particles in composite Armenian gull fecal samples, with FTIR support for selected larger particles.
- 480 fecal deposits; Selected from Armenian gull feces collected in the Lake Van Basin; pooled before analysis.
- 8,197 visually classified suspected particles; Composite gull feces; no quantitative field or procedural blanks.
- approximately 20% of particles selected for FTIR; Selection of larger particles; Methods describes fibers longer than 300 µm.
- 100-300 µm visual size class; Most frequent visual size category of all suspected fecal particles.
Methods and scope
Fecal deposits were pooled into composite groups, digested with KOH and peroxide, filtered and visually classified. Selected larger particles underwent FTIR; SEM-EDX assessed surface and elemental characteristics. Quantitative field and procedural blanks were not performed.
What this source can support
Evidence that selected fecal particles were polymers; supports a narrow local environmental occurrence page.
Not individual-bird prevalence or body burden. Most visual particles were not chemically confirmed. No quantitative blanks means airborne contamination cannot be ruled out. Abstract and Methods differ in description of which larger particles were selected. EDX alone cannot establish polymer identity.
Related evidence
Reported values and source locations
| Reported value | Measurement basis | Conditions and size context | Original document location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 480 fecal deposits | sample count, not known independent birds | Selected from Armenian gull feces collected in the Lake Van Basin; pooled before analysis Visually classified particles below 5000 µm; subset >300 µm FTIR tested | PDF p. 5 §2.3; p. 7 Table 1 |
| 8,197 visually classified suspected particles | total visual suspects, not all spectroscopically confirmed | Composite gull feces; no quantitative field or procedural blanks Visual size categories include <100 µm through >1000 µm; total defined <5000 µm | PDF pp. 6-7 §3.1 and Table 1 |
| approximately 20% of particles selected for FTIR | approximate selected subset | Selection of larger particles; Methods describes fibers longer than 300 µm selected particles >300 µm; no chemical confirmation of smaller fractions | PDF p. 6 §2.5 |
| 100-300 µm visual size class | modal visual size bin | Most frequent visual size category of all suspected fecal particles 100-300 µm, below stated FTIR selection threshold | PDF p. 7 §3.2 and Table 2 |
Source provenance
Primary PDF SHA-256: bc68ef9e4ee3b62489355a71d11a3faeaa549454b9cbb69d70de03fde4de4cf2
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