The use of feathers of birds of prey as indicators of metal pollution

Lodenius, Martin; Solonen, Tapio

doi:10.1007/s10646-013-1128-z

Cited by 101 publications

(53 citation statements)

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“…Chromium, as well as Hg, Cu, As, and Se have a high affinity for keratin [19], which may explain the higher concentrations of Cr in caracaras feathers in this research. High concentrations of Cr in tissues are only observed when body's homeostasis malfunctions and Cr is assimilated beyond what is necessary for nutrition, causing intoxication [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Similarly, Cr is present in parts of industrial processes, which lead to contaminating the environment [26]. In their study, a high correlation between Cu and Cr (r = 0.80; P < 0.0001) was found, which may be due to the high affinity of keratin for these elements [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Dauwe et al [9] demonstrated that Hg concentrations change during molting but are not affected by external contamination. Metals, such as Hg and Cd, accumulate in organisms from different trophic levels, which may indicate that this contamination comes mainly from feed [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure to heavy metals and other pollutants is generally higher in animals that are at the top of a food chain, such as raptors [1,9,19] and many are acquired by animals through food; once in the body, they undergo biochemical and physiological processes and are distributed or accumulated. In birds, a large proportion of metal is found in the feathers [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy Metal Concentrations in Free-Living Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in the Northeast Region of Brazil

Silva

Filho

Kunst

et al. 2017

Acta Scientiae. Vet.

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Background: With the continuously increasing release of heavy metals in the environment, mostly from anthropogenic sources, there is a need to find ways of evaluating and managing the issuance of these contaminants and correct its damages. The birds being at the top of some food chains reflect the presence of metals in the environment, keeping this in perspective, raptors have been successfully used for heavy metals biomonitoring studies in the past. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in the feathers and livers of free-living southern caracaras, live and dead, from Recife, Pernambuco state, Northeast of Brazil. Material, Methods & Results: Sixty-two feathers from live and dead southern caracaras and 21 livers from dead southern caracaras were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for Hg and by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for Cd, Cr, Pb, and Cu. Concentrations of Cr and Cu elements were detected in all feather and liver samples analyzed from live and dead caracaras. There was no difference in the concentration of metals between feathers of dead and live caracaras: Pb (P = 0.3576), Cd (P = 0.0792), Cr (P = 0.5475), and Cu (P = 0.3603), but significant variation was observed for Hg (P = 0.0459). The highest concentrations of Pb (P < 0.0001) and Cr (P < 0.0001) were found in the feathers than in the liver. On the other hand, the highest concentrations of Cu were found in liver samples (P = 0.0011). No significant variation in the concentrations of Cd (P = 0.7770) and Hg (P = 0.3669) was found between feathers and liver samples. Discussion: Chromium, as well as Hg, and Cu have a high affinity for keratin, which may explain the higher concentrations of Cr in caracaras feathers in this research. Lead was detected in all liver samples analyzed. Elevated levels were also found in the feathers of dead (95.2%) and live (75.6%) caracaras. The presence of Pb may be due to external contamination by pollutants, such as fossil fuels. Higher concentrations of Hg were observed in dead caracaras feathers, this concentrations change during molting but are not affected by external contamination. Metals, such as Hg, and Cd, accumulate in organisms from different trophic levels, which may indicate that this contamination comes mainly from feed. Pearson's coefficient here showed no correlation between metals from dead caracaras feathers and livers, although a few previous studies have shown a correlation between metal concentrations from tissues and feathers. This pattern can be attributed to the different time of exposure of feathers to metals in relation to livers. The concentrations of metals in hepatic tissues reflect the levels of elements in the diet of these birds, characterizing acutely the contamination of the ecosystem. On the other hand, feathers represent the exposure in the time of molting, when the artery supplies metals, thus representing a chronic exposure. In feathers from live birds, the ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy Metal Concentrations in Free-Living Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in the Northeast Region of Brazil

Silva

Filho

Kunst

et al. 2017

Acta Scientiae. Vet.

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“…Les plumes d'oiseaux sont souvent utilisées pour surveiller les concentrations de mercure dans les écosystèmes terrestres et aquatiques (Dauwe et collab., 2003;Lodenius et Solonen, 2013). Facilement recueillies, les plumes peuvent être prélevées sans nuire à la santé de l'oiseau.…”

Section: O N S E R V a T I O Nunclassified

Évolution temporelle des concentrations de mercure dans les plumes d’oiseaux de proie au Québec

Champoux¹,

Rodrigue²,

Fitzgérald³

et al. 2014

natcan

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Des analyses de mercure ont été effectuées sur des plumes de 7 espèces d’oiseaux de proie récoltées au Québec entre les années 1906 à 2002. Une diminution temporelle des concentrations a été observée chez les aigles royaux et les autours des palombes. Chez les jeunes balbuzards pêcheurs élevés à proximité des réservoirs hydroélectriques, une diminution des concentrations de mercure d’environ 33 % est observée entre 1989-1991 et 1997. Cette diminution serait liée à la baisse des concentrations de mercure chez les poissons vivant dans les réservoirs. Les espèces se nourrissant dans les milieux aquatiques, le pygargue à tête blanche et le balbuzard pêcheur, présentent des concentrations de mercure de 2 à 30 fois plus élevées que celles qui s’alimentent en milieux terrestres. Chez le pygargue à tête blanche, les concentrations apparaissent élevées et augmentent avec l’âge des oiseaux échantillonnés.

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Predictive meta‐regressions relating mercury tissue concentrations of freshwater piscivorous mammals

Eccles

Thomas

Chan

2017

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant of global concern. Sentinel species such as river otter (Lontra canadensis) and mink (Neovison vison) are often used to monitor environmental concentrations in freshwater ecosystems. Tissue total Hg (THg) concentrations are frequently used as biomarkers of exposure. However, there is no comprehensive model relating Hg tissue concentrations in different tissues, making interstudy comparisons challenging. Our objective was to establish conversion factors relating fur, brain, liver, kidney, and muscle THg concentrations using mean concentrations and standard errors reported in the literature. We used data from more than 6000 samples, pooled across 16 studies and 96 sampling sites in North America and Europe. Sixteen regressions were derived for the river otter and mink models, which were statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval and yielded high explained variances. The models were validated using an external data set of individually measured THg tissue concentrations. The validated conversions were used to evaluate the current fur Hg screening guidelines of 20 µg/g and 30 µg/g. At both of these fur concentrations, brain concentrations are of concern for altering brain neurochemistry. We suggest a more conservative fur Hg screening guideline of 15 µg/g to protect sensitive furbearers. The conversion factors can be used to predict internal organ THg concentrations from fur measurements, eliminating the need for invasive tissue sampling. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2377-2384. © 2017 SETAC.

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The use of feathers of birds of prey as indicators of metal pollution

Cited by 101 publications

References 101 publications

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Free-Living Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in the Northeast Region of Brazil

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Free-Living Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in the Northeast Region of Brazil

Évolution temporelle des concentrations de mercure dans les plumes d’oiseaux de proie au Québec

Predictive meta‐regressions relating mercury tissue concentrations of freshwater piscivorous mammals

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