Concentrations of Metals, Metalloids, and Chlorinated Pollutants in Blood and Plasma of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Nestlings From Spain

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of different inorganic elements (lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], and arsenic [As]) and persistent chlorinated pollutants (including polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] and organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) in blood and plasma of White stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings from northwest (NW) Spain. The concentrations of PCBs were lower than the limit of detection in all samples. The OCPs γ-HCH, 4,4'-DDE, HCB, and endosulfan were detected most frequently in plasma from White stork nestlings. These OCPs were detected in 98, 54, 39, and 37 % of all samples, respectively. However, the concentrations of organic pollutants were lower than the risk thresholds for birds. The mean levels of the inorganic elements Pb, Hg, and As were found to be 36.92 ± 33.48, 16.48 ± 12.87, and 9.813 ± 13.84 µg/L, respectively. These levels were also lower than the risk thresholds for birds. This study not only provides a snapshot of the levels of both inorganic and organic contaminants in wild White storks in NW Spain, it also provides a useful baseline for biomonitoring levels of the measured contaminants in this area.

Relationships between pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, blood parameters and oxidative stress of white stork Ciconia ciconia chicks in Poland

“…It appears that the pesticide concentrations detected in storks in our study have a similar physiological impact (mainly on the blood parameters of chicks) as in similar experiments conducted in Extremadura (Spain) by Pérez-López et al ( 2016 ). Their study showed that the level of pesticides in the blood of white stork chicks may depend on the concentration of pesticides used in the environment, on the feeding strategy of the parents, as well as on mutual, parallel interactions between individual pesticides.…”

“…The results for beta-HCH differed between birds from polluted and nonpolluted environments. Similar differentiation has been demonstrated in white storks from various environments in Spain (Blázquez et al 2006;Blas and Baos 2008;Muñoz-Arnanz et al 2008;Sáez et al 2008b;de la Casa-Resino et al 2015;Pérez-López et al 2016).…”

“…However, some interesting investigations on this topic have been undertaken. Blázquez et al ( 2006 ), de la Casa-Resino et al ( 2015 ) and Pérez-López et al ( 2016 ) studied the levels of different inorganic elements (Pb, Hg and As) and persistent chlorinated pollutants (including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) in blood and plasma of white stork chicks from NW Spain. These studies determined that the levels of the studied elements and pollutants were generally lower than the risk thresholds for birds but were a useful baseline for biomonitoring the levels of measured contaminants in the study areas.…”

Analytical development for the assessment of pesticide contaminations in blood and plasma of wild birds: The case of grey partridges (Perdix perdix)

“…Many analytical procedures have already been developed so far for the quantification of contaminants such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), novel flame retardants (NFRs), neonicotinoids, chlorinated paraffins, parabens, bisphenols but also organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), neonicotinoids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in birds of prey, eggs, honey or bees [16][17][18][19][20]. It is already known that, in bird blood and plasma, some compounds are present in high concentrations [15,[21][22][23][24].…”