Heavy Metal Distribution in Chicks of Two Heron Species from Korea

Abstract

This study presents concentrations of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, and cadmium in tissues of black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (n = 8) and grey heron (Ardea cinerea) (n = 9) chicks from Pyeongtaek heronry, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 2001. Iron (respectively, 45.8 +/- 24.0 microg/wet g, 155 +/- 123 microg/wet g), zinc (38.3 +/- 5.34 microg/wet g, 50.9 +/- 14.0 microg/wet g), and copper (9.93 +/- 2.26 microg/wet g, 30.2 +/- 12.9 microg/wet g) concentrations in feathers, manganese concentrations in livers (3.26 +/- 0.68 microg/ wet g, 1.50 +/- 0.58 microg/wet g), kidneys (1.43 +/- 0.27 microg/wet g, 0.84 +/- 0.34 microg/wet g), and bones (1.34 +/- 0.50 microg/wet g, 3.17 +/- 1.31 microg/wet g) were different between black-crowned night heron and grey heron chicks. Lead concentrations in bones (0.11 +/- 0.04 microg/wet g, 0.61 +/- 0.42 microg/wet g) and cadmium concentrations in liver (13.5 +/- 2.30 microg/wet kg, 10.3 +/- 1.59 microg/wet kg), kidney (6.61 +/- 2.54 microg/wet kg, 2.31 +/- 1.29 microg/wet kg), and muscle (5.25 +/- 5.91 microg/wet kg, 1.37 +/- 0.90 microg/wet kg) differed between chicks of the two heron species. The differences of heavy metal concentrations in tissues in herons and egrets were reported to other similar studies. Heavy metal concentrations for both heron species were at background levels. In both species, lead concentrations were higher in livers than in bones and cadmium concentrations were higher in livers than in kidneys. We suggest that it is not chronic exposure but acute exposure to lead and cadmium contamination around breeding site that leads to these observations. Therefore, lead and cadmium concentrations in tissues can be used as a bioindicator of acute local contamination.

Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn, Zn) Contents in Ungulates of Ogun State Agricultural Farm Settlement, Ago - Iwoye, Nigeria

“…Pb and Cd concentrations in the liver were within the background level or normal range which against Kim and Koo (2008b) findings, but in accordance with Kim et al (2009) findings on heavy metals in tissue of some wild birds from Korea. Zn, Mn and Fe concentrations were found higher and not significantly different (P > 0.05) in the liver in line with Kim et al (2009) findings.…”

“…All the metals were not significantly different (P > 0.05) in the liver except Cu which was in line with Kim and Koo (2008b) findings on heavy metals distribution in chicks of two heron species from Korea. Essential elements concentration (Fe, Zn and Mn) did not significantly differs (P > 0.05) in the liver and kidney as found by Kim et al (2010) in monitoring of heavy metal contamination using tissue of two ardeids chicks.…”

“…Therefore, it suggests that Pb and Cd in the liver and kidney can be used as a bio-indicator of acute and/or chronic local contamination (Kim and Koo, 2008b;Kim et al, 2010). Cd and Zn concentration were recorded highest in the lungs at the fourth week (Table 3).…”

Contaminations of Metal in Tissues of Siberian Gull Larus heuglini: Gender, Age, and Tissue Differences

“…In this study, kidney lead concentrations were lower than 10 lg/g dw in Siberian gull. Lead concentrations in Siberian gull kidney and muscle from the present study were higher than those in Black-crowned Night Heron and Grey heron from Korea (Kim and Koo 2008) and Common buzzards from Sicily, Italy (Naccari et al 2009). Lead has been responsible for acute incidents of bird poisoning (Bull et al 1983).…”

“…These species can provide interesting data to relation monitor the quality of the environment (Kim and Koo 2008). Many studies have recommended Seabirds as bioindicators for metals in aquatic systems and local pollution around breeding sites (Burger 2002;Barbieri et al 2009;Mansouri et al 2012).…”