A Simple, Quantitative Test for Erythrocytic Protoporphyrin in Lead-Poisoned Ducks

Abstract

This instrument is capable of measuring the PP concentration in a single drop of unprocessed blood.

Biochemical and haematological values for mute swans (cygnus olor): Effects of acute lead poisoning

“…Bush et al (1982) suggest that values of protoporphoyrin greater than 1.07 jumoles/litre are indicative of lead poisoning in humans. Roscoe (1979) selected a more conservative value of 0.70 pmoles/litre (40 /ig/100 ml) in ducks, to distinguish lead poisoned birds. In the present study, values of protoporphyrin ranged from 0.10 to 1.20 /¿moles/litre (Table 2) for 95% of the normal values, with a maximum value of 1.60 ¿unoles/ litre in one healthy cygnet ( Table 2).…”

“…(1979), in the United Kingdom, examined haemoglobin and haematocrit values in lead poisoned mute swans Cygnus olor (Gmelin), but again these were not compared with 'normal' blood values. Roscoe et al (1979) and Birkhead (1983) used free red blood cell protoporphyrin to measure lead exposure in wildfowl without knowing the normal range of values. This paper presents some biochemical and haematological reference values, derived from overtly healthy mute swans which were known to have low lead levels (O'Halloran et al, 1987a).…”

Experimental Lead Poisoning in Turkey Vultures (Cathartes Aura)

“…The analysis was optimized for turkey vulture blood with a pH 6.4 buffer. The remainder of the sample was stored at 4 C for 48 hr before determining EEP concentration with a hematofluorometer (AVIV Biomedical, Inc., Lakewood, New Jersey, USA) as modified by Roscoe et al (1979).…”

Biomarkers of metals exposure in fish from lead-zinc mining areas of Southeastern Missouri, USA

“…In birds and in the American toad (Bufo arenarum), ferrochelatase inhibition results in the accumulation of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), and FEP measurement by hematofluorometry has been used as a biomarker of Pb exposure (Anderson and Havera, 1985;Arrieta et al, 2004;Blus et al, 1991;Franson et al, 1986;Roscoe et al, 1979). In the American toad, FEP is more sensitive to Pb than ALA-D (Arrieta et al, 2004), but the general consensus among avian toxicologists is that FEP accumulation is less sensitive than ALA-D (Pain, 1989;Beyer et al, 2000).…”