A Study of Absorption and Retention of Lead in Wild Waterfowl in Relation to Clinical Evidence of Lead Poisoning

Coburn, D.R.; Metzler, D.; Treichler, Ray

doi:10.2307/3796607

Cited by 32 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…By contrast, the highest lead level detected on Islay was 22.5 mg/kg. This disparity may be explained by differences in feeding rates and retention times between species and individuals, with higher feeding rates and shorter retention times leading to lower faecal lead levels (Coburn et al 1951, Bellrose 1959, Figuerola et al 2005. Alternatively, these four Whitefronted Geese could have recently ingested or expelled lead shot from the gizzard resulting in lower faecal lead concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence of lead ingestion in managed goose populations and the efficacy of imposed restrictions on the use of lead shot

McIntosh

Ozsanlav-Harris

Taggart

et al. 2023

Ibis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that when ingested can cause death or sub‐lethal fitness effects. Despite its toxicity, it is still widely used in recreational and management shooting globally. To reduce the impacts of lead on wildfowl, recent European Union legislation has banned the use of lead shot in and around wetlands from 2023. Understanding the effectiveness of such mitigation is vital to inform future policy. On Islay, Scotland, the licensed shooting of Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis to reduce agricultural damage has adhered to the ban on use of lead shot over Ramsar‐designated wetlands legislated in Scotland in 2004. On average 2380 lead cartridges were fired annually between 2005 and 2020 outside designated wetlands, where Barnacle Geese and other wildfowl forage. From faecal samples, it is possible to infer whether birds have ingested lead and are therefore potentially suffering from lead poisoning. After sampling faeces from Barnacle Geese (n = 193) and Greenland White‐fronted Geese Anser albifrons flavirostris (n = 150) we found only four (1.2%) faecal samples with elevated lead levels that may be indicative of lead shot ingestion. Further post‐mortem examinations (n = 102 Barnacle Geese only) and X‐ray of live birds (n = 293) revealed similarly low levels of shot ingestion in both species (post‐mortem < 4%, and X‐ray < 2%), corroborating findings from faecal sample analysis. When subsequently accounting for limited shot retention time within individuals, the proportion of each population ingesting a single lead shot over a winter was estimated at a maximum of 9.4% (Barnacle Geese) and 16.8% (White‐fronted Geese). We propose that high compliance with the ban on using lead shot over wetlands because of carefully controlled shooting management on Islay has led to relatively low instantaneous ingestion rates, probably resulting in minimal lead poisoning mortality. However, ingestion was not eliminated and the potential fitness effect of chronic lead poisoning in both goose populations therefore persists, although use of lead shot in organized shooting has subsequently been discontinued. Recent European Union bans on lead shot use over wetlands may reduce lead ingestion in waterfowl if compliance rates are high, but as foraging often occurs outside wetlands (as in this study), further restrictions including use on other key foraging sites may help to further mitigate the risk of lead poisoning in waterfowl.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence of lead ingestion in managed goose populations and the efficacy of imposed restrictions on the use of lead shot

McIntosh

Ozsanlav-Harris

Taggart

et al. 2023

Ibis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Experimental waterfowl that died after exposure to lead in various forms and routes contained 5-80/~g g-1 lead in their livers, with a usual range of 20-40/~g g-1 (Coburn et al, 1951;Cook and Trainer, 1966;Longcore et al, 1974). Lead levels were I>5/~g g-1 in livers of 8 of 18 (44%) wood ducks that were shot by hunters in the contaminated area in 1987 and1988 (John Nigh, personal communication) and in 4 of 13 (31%) wood ducks collected during this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation and effects of lead and cadmium on wood ducks near a mining and smelting complex in Idaho

et al. 1993

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

: A study of wood ducks (Aix sponsa) was conducted along the Coeur d'Alene River system in northern Idaho in 1986 and 1987. Most of this area has been subjected to severe contamination from lead and other metals from mining and smelting since the 1880s. In 1986, a preliminary study of wood duck nesting was conducted in the contaminated area; incubating hens captured in nest boxes were bled and weighed. Blood samples were used to determine lead and cadmium concentrations and physiological characteristics. In 1987, an intensive study of wood ducks involved trapping and monitoring nest boxes in the contaminated area. Blood and tissue samples were also taken from wood ducks from a reference area without known contamination from metals. Lead levels in blood and tissues of most wood ducks from the contaminated area frequently exceeded those considered hazardous to birds; maximum levels (wet weight) of lead were 8 μg g(-1) in blood and 14 μg g(-1) in liver. Changes in physiological characteristics constituted the only evidence of potentially adverse effects from lead. In the contaminated area, nesting success (55% unadjusted, 35% Mayfield estimate) was less than in other areas where predation was low and nest boxes were used; but lead concentrations and physiological characteristics of blood were similar in successful and unsuccessful hens.Values of ALAD, hemoglobin, and body mass were negatively correlated with blood concentrations of lead, whereas protoporphyrin was positively correlated with lead levels in the blood. Some of the protoporphyrin values (1,091 μg dl(-1) in a male and 756 μg dl(-1) in a female) equalled those associated with lead toxicosis in experimental birds. ALAD activity was low in most birds from the contaminated area; values of 0 were obtained from 11 birds. Lead levels in blood, ALAD, protoporphyrin, and hemoglobin were significantly different between birds from the contaminated and reference areas. Concentrations of lead in ingesta of wood ducks ranged from 0.9 to 610 μg g(-1) in the contaminated area and 0.2 to 0.6 μg g(-1) in the reference area. Levels of cadmium in kidneys of wood ducks ranged from 1μg g(-1) to 20 μg g(-1) in the contaminated area and from only to 0.1 μg g(-1) to 1 μg g(-1) in the reference area. Cadmium concentrations were less than known effect levels.

show abstract

“…These data were then used to interpret phosphorus concentration in tissues of redhead ducks (Aythya americana) collected from northern Chesapeake Bay, which led to the conclusion that "it appears probable" that the birds had been killed from ingestion of elemental phosphorus (Coburn et al 1950). In order to interpret quantities of lead that produce toxic signs in waterfowl, mallards were dosed with lead nitrate (soluble and readily absorbable form of lead) for several weeks (Coburn et al 1951). Anemia, emaciation, and a number of pathological lesions were consistently noted, and lead concentration in bone and liver was 7 and 40 times greater than that found in control birds.…”

Section: The Beginnings Of Wildlife Toxicologymentioning

confidence: 99%

DDT and Other Organohalogen Pesticides in Aquatic Organisms

Beckvar¹,

Lotufo²

2011

Environmental Contaminants in Biota

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A Study of Absorption and Retention of Lead in Wild Waterfowl in Relation to Clinical Evidence of Lead Poisoning

Cited by 32 publications

References 0 publications

Incidence of lead ingestion in managed goose populations and the efficacy of imposed restrictions on the use of lead shot

Incidence of lead ingestion in managed goose populations and the efficacy of imposed restrictions on the use of lead shot

Accumulation and effects of lead and cadmium on wood ducks near a mining and smelting complex in Idaho

DDT and Other Organohalogen Pesticides in Aquatic Organisms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About