Trace Element Bioaccumulation in Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus, Linnaeus, 1758): A Case Study from Sicily (Italy)

Abstract

The study aimed to highlight the degree of trace element contamination along three sites of Sicily: the Magnisi peninsula (MP), located in proximity to the Augusta–Priolo–Melilli petrochemical plant; the Ragusa agro-ecosystem (RA), characterized by a rural landscape; and the Gela plain (GP), characterized by intensive agriculture and a disused petrochemical plant. We collected biological samples (abraded back feathers and blood) of the Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus Linnaeus, 1758) as well as soil samples to determine the trace elements concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Se and V using ICP-MS analysis. The results found for the three sites show different trends of accumulation, which depend on the different management and geological characteristics of the areas. The Gela plain and Magnisi peninsula showed a higher degree of contamination (As, Co, Cu, Mn and Se for the Gela plain; Pb and Hg for the Magnisi peninsula). Nevertheless, no critical values were found for either the environment—if the results are compared with the legal limits fixed by the Legislative Decree No. 152/2006, approving the Code on the Environment—or for living organisms—if the results are compared with the toxicological thresholds for birds, especially if the short-term exposure results from the blood values are considered. Only the Se levels in animal blood from the RA and GP were found slightly higher than the minimum level required in bird diets. The positive scenario can be attributed on the one hand to the interruptions of emissions of the Gela refinery around 5 years ago, and on the other hand to the more intense and strict controls that are implemented in the area surrounding the petrochemical pole of Augusta–Priolo–Melilli.

First Report of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Variation in Opsius heydeni (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) from Polluted and Control Sites

“…For example, a significant positive correlation was found between metal concentrations in soil and the leaf and bark of T. aphylla in Tunisia [24]. The Magnisi peninsula at the Priolo Gargallo site shows a high degree of Pb and Hg contamination [19] and hosts sparse vegetation of Tamarix grown on a pyrite ash dump. Therefore, we speculate that the polluted soil on which Tamarix plants grow, coupled with the high bioaccumulation capacity of these plants, on whose sap O. heydeni feeds, affected the mtDNAcn of this species of insect.…”

“…The latter incorporates the natural harbor of Augusta and a large coastal marine area reaching as far as Syracuse, which extends 3 km offshore [16][17][18]. Within this perimeter, the Magnisi peninsula is heavily contaminated and is the site of a pyrite ash dump resulting from industrialization activities in the surrounding area [19]. Therefore, the peninsula was identified as the study area in this research.…”

Geospatial pattern of topsoil pollution and multi-endpoint toxicity in the petrochemical area of Augusta-Priolo (eastern Sicily, Italy)

“…The presence of such classes of compounds have also for some time raised concerns about potential impacts on human and environmental health (Park et al, 2006;Weng et al, 2008;Cernigliaro et al, 2016Cernigliaro et al, , 2019Reinecke et al, 2016;Santoro et al, 2017;Yuan et al, 2018;Kafaei et al, 2019). In particular, topsoil from areas around oil refineries have been the subject of both chemical analyses (Li et al, 2009;Di Leonardo et al, 2014;Bayat et al, 2015;Benlaribi and Djebbar, 2020;Di Bella et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020) and biological effects assessments using specific bioassay models which have provided evidence for multiple adverse effects (Höss et al, 2009;González et al, 2013;Hentati et al, 2013;Reinecke et al, 2016;Maisano et al, 2017;Copat et al, 2020).…”

“…In parallel with human health considerations, a range of studies have been carried out near petrochemical facilities on the analysis of environmental samples (see, e.g., Di Leonardo et al, 2014) soil-and sediment-based bioassays (Li et al, 2009;Höss et al, 2009;González et al, 2013;De Domenico et al, 2013;Signa et al, 2017;Caricato et al, 2019;Copat et al, 2020) which have clearly demonstrated the deleterious impact of these environmental samples, particularly those with high metal and polycyclic organic concentrations, on a number of biota, including marine organisms and human health (Mudu et al, 2014;Maisano et al, 2017;Gorini et al, 2020;Romano et al, 2021) as summarized in Table 1. However, a relevant task in evaluating the possibly adverse effects of soil in proximity of petrochemical facilities needed an ad hoc investigation.…”