＜正＞ Eleven white-tailed sea eagles （WSEs） （Haliaeetusalbicilla） collected in Finland between 1994 and 2001were examined for their causes of death,includinganalyses of ubiquitous environmental contaminants andparasites.Four WSEs died due to electrocution.Twowere lead poisoned and another had fragments of a leadbullet in its gizzard.An 11-year-old female drownedentangled in fishing gear,but also had mercury levels inits liver and kidneys known for detrimental physiologicaleffects.One WSE was evidently killed by an intraspecificconflict,which was also assumed to be with another bird.The mortality factors of two WSEs could not be clarified,but one had a lead level of 4.604 μg g-1 in its liver,indicating high lead exposure at a clinically relevantconcentration.All organ levels of chlorinated pesticides,polychlorinated biphenyls,and cadmium were moderateand not harmful for birds of prey.Seven helminth species,but no ectoparasites or coccidians,were found in 8 of 10WSEs investigated for parasites.The highest prevalenceof 40% was found for the liver fluke Metorchis billis,but nosevere parasitosis was diagnosed for the eagles.The twoacanthocephalan species Corynosoma semerme andPolymorphus meyeri are both new records for WSEs.
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