Zinc and Lead Poisoning in Wild Birds in the Tri-State Mining District (Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri)

Abstract

The Tri-State Mining District (Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri) is contaminated with Pb, Cd, and Zn from mining, milling and smelting. Metals have been dispersed heterogeneously throughout the District in the form of milled mine waste ("chat"), as flotation tailings and from smelters as aerial deposition or slag. This study was conducted to determine if the habitat has been contaminated to the extent that the assessment populations of wild birds are exposed to toxic concentrations of metals. American robins (Turdus migratorius), northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), and waterfowl had increased Pb tissue concentrations (p < 0.05) compared with Pb tissue concentrations from reference birds, and the exposure of songbirds to Pb was comparable with that of birds observed at other sites severely contaminated with Pb. Mean activities of the Pb-sensitive enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) were decreased by >50% in red blood cells in these birds (p < 0.05). Several birds had tissue concentrations of Pb that have been associated with impaired biological functions and external signs of poisoning. Cadmium was increased in kidneys of songbirds (p < 0.05), but no proximal tubule cell necrosis associated with Cd poisoning was observed. Zinc concentrations in liver and kidney of waterfowl were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than reference values. The increased environmental concentrations of Zn associated with mining in the District accounted for the pancreatitis previously observed in five waterfowl from the District. The District is the first site at which free-flying wild birds have been found to be suffering severe effects of Zn poisoning.

A Screening-Level Assessment of Lead, Cadmium, and Zinc in Fish and Crayfish from Northeastern Oklahoma, USA

“…Preliminary analysis indicates some risk to birds from the consumption of Pb and Zn contaminated fish and invertebrates, but not Cd. This assessment is also consistent with recent reports of biochemical effects in fish Yoo & Janz, 2003) and of Zn poisoning in TSMD waterfowl (Beyer et al, 2004). Collectively, the results of this and the other investigations cited indicate that fish in the TSMD are also exposed to comparatively high concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn and possibly other elemental contaminants from mining.…”

Effects of lead exposure on oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma biochemistry in waterbirds in the field

“…As reported previously (Pain, 1989;Henny et al, 2000;Beyer et al, 2004), ALAD ratio is a good predictor of PbB in waterbirds and a sensitive biomarker for screening Pb exposure and poisoning in the field. Physiological and heme-pathway disturbances due to Pb poisoning may be observed with PbB 4 40 mg/dl (Pain, 1989).…”

The Effect of Low Dose Ionizing Radiation and Cadmium Chloride on Glucose Metabolism in Broiler Chickens

“…Industrial production and urbanization are responsible for increased pollution of our ecosystem with toxic substances including risk elements (Beyer et al 2005;Obi et al 2006). Cadmium is a highly toxic, dangerous environmental contaminant capable of accumulating in soil and water ecosystems (Drastichová et al 2004) through which it enters also the food chain (Altindag and Yigit 2005;Johansen et al 2006).…”