Mercury, methylmercury, and selenium in blood of bird species from Doñana National Park (Southwestern Spain) after a mining accident

Abstract

Total mercury (Hg), monomethylmercury (MeHg), and selenium (Se) were determined in blood of 11 bird species living in Doñana National Park (DNP, Southwestern Spain) and the surrounding area in 1999 and 2000 after a mine spill accident. The total Hg contents found varied from 1.00 to 587 ng/mL, with an MeHg percentage higher than 80 %, except in mallard species. In all the cases, the concentrations found were below the threshold of high risk for the bird populations. The parameters which most affected the accumulation of Hg and MeHg in the birds studied were, first, species, or trophic position, and second sampling area. Age does not seem to have a great influence on the content of Hg in the blood of these birds. The levels of Se found ranged from 108 to 873 ng/mL, and they were not affected by species, trophic level, age, or sampling area. The blood Hg concentrations of birds living in the area directly affected by the toxic mud, outside the park, were higher than those found in the other birds, and this could be explained by the mine spill accident happened in 1998.

Evidence of Low-Habitat Contamination Using Feathers of Three Heron Species as a Biomonitor of Inorganic Elemental Pollution

“…[ 75 ]. As previously stated by Alvarez et al [ 76 ] and also the results of the present study, bird species with terrestrial feeding habits show Hg contaminations lower than waterbirds. The relevance of fish, which is the primary source of Hg in the diet of the three investigated species, is highlighted by the results shown in Figure 1 .…”

Interactions between Environmental Contaminants and Gastrointestinal Parasites: Novel Insights from an Integrative Approach in a Marine Predator

“…Total Hg concentrations approximate methyl-Hg concentrations in seabird blood. 34 Hg and other TEs partition preferentially in red blood cells, where the concentrations typically represent recent exposure, but time integration can differ between TEs and physiological conditions. 10 Se has a well-known protective role against Hg toxicity.…”

Trace Elements and Metal Content in the Feathers of the Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus Eremita)

“…It has also been reported in other studies that pollution can occur with these metals (Al, Co, Ni, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ag, Tl, Pb and Cd) during the growth period of feathers (Dauwe et al, 2003). Exposure of birds to Pb, Se, Cd, Zn and As causes reproductive failure, growth disorder, and behavioral changes (Binkowski et al, 2013;Govind and Madhuri, 2014;Alvárez et al, 2013). With the exception of Cu, no significant difference was observed in terms of other elements.…”