Expanding the use of portable XRF to monitor lead exposure in an Australian duck species two decades after a ban on lead shot

Nzabanita, Damien; Hampton, Jordan O.; Toop, Simon D.; Bengsen, Andrew J.; Specht, Aaron J.; Flesch, Jason S.; Hufschmid, Jasmin; Nugegoda, Dayanthi

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161803

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…We accessed hunter‐donated wing samples as per past studies to use wing‐collection surveys (Myatt & Krementz, 2007; Nzabanita et al, 2023; Wickson et al, 1992). This was a nonrandomized sampling method.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Waterbirds

Nzabanita,

Shen,

Grist

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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There is growing worldwide recognition of the threat posed by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to wildlife populations. We aimed to measure exposure levels to POPs in a Southern Hemisphere aquatic waterbird species, the nomadic grey teal (Anas gracilis), which is found across Australia. We collected wings from 39 ducks harvested by recreational hunters at two sites (one coastal, one inland) in Victoria, south‐eastern Australia, in 2021. We examined three groups of POPs: nine congeners of polychlorinated bi‐phenyls (PCBs), 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PCBs, OCPs and PAHs were detected at quantifiable levels in 13%, 72%, and 100% of birds, respectively. Of the congeners we tested for in PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs, 33%, 38%, and 100% were detected at quantifiable levels, respectively. The highest levels of exposure to POPs that we found was to the PAH, benzo[b]fluoranthene, occurring at a concentration range of 1.78–161.05 ng/g ww. There were some trends detected relating to differences between geographical sites, with higher levels of several PAHs at the coastal versus inland site. There were several strong, positive associations among PAHs found. We discuss potential sources for the POPs detected, including industrial and agricultural sources, and the likely role of large‐scale forest fires in PAH levels. Our results confirm that while Australian waterbirds are exposed to a variety of POPs, exposure levels are currently relatively low. Additional future investigations are required to further characterize POPs within Australian waterbird species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Waterbirds

Nzabanita,

Shen,

Grist

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…We then analyzed samples in a 7700® Series ICP-MS unit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA), as per Nzabanita et al (2023a). For quality control, trace elements in human hair ERMDB001 and Mussel-2976 standard reference materials (National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, USA) were both triplicated and used to determine the experimental recovery efficiency.…”

Section: Heavy Metals and Blood Biochemistry Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions Between Heavy Metal Exposure and Blood Biochemistry in an Urban Population of the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) in Australia

Nzabanita,

Mulder,

Lettoof

et al. 2024

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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There is growing recognition of the threat posed to wildlife by pollutants. Waterbirds are robust bioindicators of ecosystem health, and metal toxicity is a threat to these species in waterways worldwide. Urban waterbirds are likely to be at the highest risk of heavy metal exposure, but this issue has not been widely explored in Australia. Our aim was to estimate contemporary heavy metal exposure in a sedentary urban waterbird population: black swans (Cygnus atratus) inhabiting an inner-city wetland in one of Australia’s largest cities, Melbourne. To investigate the physiological implications of legacy heavy metal exposure in these birds, we quantified blood biochemistry profiles and examined their relationships with metal concentrations in feathers. We caught 15 swans in 2021 and took feather samples to measure the concentration of eight heavy metals (chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg)), and blood samples to measure the concentration of 13 plasma analytes. Multivariate regression analysis revealed few associations between heavy metals and biochemistry markers, and no differences between sexes or age classes. This study presents a baseline dataset of these contaminants and blood biochemical profiles of swans at this wetland that can be used for future monitoring and is an important step toward a better understanding of the threat posed by heavy metals to Australian urban waterbirds.

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“…A product of low levels of awareness of lead pollution issues, lead-based bullets continue to be used routinely in Australia (Hampton et al 2022e), including for culling programs on conservation estate (Woodford et al 2020). However, there has been some recent Australian research demonstrating lead exposure can harm waterbirds (Nzabanita et al 2023) and scavenging wildlife species. Scavengers play critical ecological roles in wildlife communities (Wilson & Wolkovich 2011) and are threatened by lead exposure world-wide (Pain et al 2019).…”

Section: Implications For Managersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there has been some recent Australian research demonstrating lead exposure can harm waterbirds (Nzabanita et al . 2023) and scavenging wildlife species. Scavengers play critical ecological roles in wildlife communities (Wilson & Wolkovich 2011) and are threatened by lead exposure world‐wide (Pain et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highlighting the risk of environmental lead contamination for deer management in Australia

Hampton,

Flesch,

Wendt

et al. 2023

Eco Management Restoration

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SummaryLead‐based bullets used to shoot deer typically fragment. These toxic fragments are a threat to wildlife scavengers and human consumers of venison. Awareness of this issue is widespread internationally but limited in Australia. The aim of this research was to characterise deer carcass contamination via bullet fragmentation associated with lead‐based and lead‐free ammunition in a deer culling program conducted in Australia. We used radiography (X‐rays) to study Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) shot in a professional ground‐based shooting program in Victoria, south‐eastern Australia. Our data captured 33 deer shot with frangible lead‐based bullets in 2021, and 21 deer shot with monolithic lead‐free (copper‐based) bullets from the same rifles in 2021–2022. For lead‐based bullets, the mean number of lead fragments per carcass ranged from seven to 629 (mean ± SD = 256 ± 169), mean fragment size was 1.2 mm2 (74% of fragments were <1.0 mm2) and the mean fragment coverage area (the smallest ellipse covering all fragments) was 325 cm2. Of these deer, 36% had metallic fragments in the ‘back strap’ (loin) muscles and 42% had metallic fragments in the shoulder muscles: meat cuts typically removed for human consumption. In contrast, for lead‐free bullets, the mean number of metallic fragments per carcass ranged from zero to four (0.5 ± 1.0), with only 29% of carcasses having any fragments, and no deer had metallic fragments in the loin or shoulder muscles. On the basis of these results, it is clear that lead‐based bullets used for shooting deer in Australia pose risks to wildlife scavengers, and to human consumers when used in hunting. Australian wildlife managers involved in mitigating deer impacts should strongly consider a timely transition to lead‐free bullets.

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Expanding the use of portable XRF to monitor lead exposure in an Australian duck species two decades after a ban on lead shot

Cited by 8 publications

References 41 publications

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Waterbirds

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Waterbirds

Interactions Between Heavy Metal Exposure and Blood Biochemistry in an Urban Population of the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) in Australia

Highlighting the risk of environmental lead contamination for deer management in Australia

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