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Oral administration of Prudhoe Bay crude or Hibernia crude to nestling herring gulls increased the hepatic cytochrome P-450 content 4-fold. Concomitantly, there was an increase in various mixed-function oxidase and phase II enzyme activities. 7-Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase was elevated 19-fold, benzo(a)pyrene 3-hydroxylase 6-fold, aniline hydroxylase 3-fold, and aminopyrine N-demethylase and uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase 2-fold. There was no change in reduced glutathione S-transferase activity. Renal mixed-function oxidase activities were also elevated. Herring gull livers contained very low levels of DT-diaphorase activity which was inducible 3- to 5-fold by oil administration.

Heinz body hemolytic anemia developed in Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) nestlings given oral doses of 10 ml of Prudhoe Bay crude oil per kilogram of body weight per day for 5 days. Associated disturbances in red blood cells were increased amounts of reduced glutathione (GSH), peroxidation of membrane lipids, an increase in membrane permeability, and a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of cyanomethemoglobin-convertible hemoglobin. Among groups of gulls given different cumulative doses of oil over a 6-day period, significant covariance with dose and dependence on dose was demonstrated for packed cell volume, hemoglobin, and red cell GSH. Rapid defecation of oil by gulls indicated that the effective dose was substantially less than the administered dose. Pronounced damage to red cells occurred in some birds administered oil for only 2 days. These data imply that the toxic effects of ingested oil may contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality of oil-contaminated birds.