Assessing Lead Exposure in Free-Ranging Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota, USA

Kelly, Janetta; Carstensen, Michelle; Hildebrand, Erik C.; Long, Lindsey J.

doi:10.7589/jwd-d-20-00185

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This is a high enough discrepancy to suggest a real difference between these values even when accounting for limited accuracy of the XRF analysis. This result indicates support for the hypothesis that devils living in modified landscapes subjected to regular culling may be at elevated risk of lead contamination compared to devil populations in unmodified habitats (or at least those from urban areas with minimal shooting activity), as has been found in some other mammalian non-specialist scavengers in areas where hunting occurs (Brown et al, 2022; Kelly et al, 2021). Notably, our study results came from only two sample populations with different locations and time periods, so the discrepancy could be due to other factors that we could not incorporate into the analysis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…To our knowledge, all past studies of lead exposure in scavenging mammals have utilized invasive sampling via collection of blood (Boesen et al, 2019; Brown et al, 2023; Fuchs et al, 2021; Hivert et al, 2018; Rogers et al, 2012), teeth (Brown et al, 2022) or liver (Kelly et al, 2021). Recent reviews have highlighted the value of non-invasive sampling of heavy metal exposure in wild mammals (Jota Baptista et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Portable X-ray Fluorescence for Measuring Lead in the Hair of Wild Mammals

Jones¹,

Bengsen

Specht

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Lead (Pb) toxicity is a threat to scavenging wildlife across the globe. To allow inexpensive measurement of long-term lead exposure from archived wildlife tissues, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) devices have been optimized to measure lead concentrations in bone samples from avian species. In this study, we assessed portable XRF for hair lead measurement in an Australian mammalian scavenger, the threatened Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). We attempted to first validate the method by analysing relatively large (~1.0 g) hair samples from 39 deceased animals initially with XRF, and then with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (validation study). We then measured lead concentrations via XRF only in a further 61 hair samples taken from live devils trapped in a plantation forestry landscape, where devils may scavenge on browsing marsupials that are regularly culled using lead ammunition (plantation study). Portable XRF hair lead measurement demonstrated a positive correlation with ICP-MS results (R2 = 0.95), although the relationship was weak at low lead concentrations. In the validation study, 95% of sampled Tasmanian devils had relatively low lead levels (≤ 3 mg/kg), but the remaining two animals showed considerably elevated lead levels (> 15 mg/kg), suggesting that harmful long-term lead exposure can occur in this species. In the plantation study, lead levels were comparable to those found in the hair of mammals in other studies, though a higher proportion (11%) of devils showed levels > 3 mg/kg than in the validation study, suggesting devils may have higher exposure to lead in a landscape subjected to regular culling of browsing mammals. Our results suggests that portable XRF is a promising emerging technology, and after some refinement, may allow non-invasive real-time measurement of lead concentrations in the hair of mammals.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Portable X-ray Fluorescence for Measuring Lead in the Hair of Wild Mammals

Jones¹,

Bengsen

Specht

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…(2021) 6, 7, 8 and 9 Possibly 2, 3 and 11 Grey Wolf ( Canis lupus ) Wolves whose territory overlaps with high density deer hunting site may have greater exposure risk due to increased Pb in viscera piles. Kelly et al. (2021) 8 Bank vole ( Myodes glareolus ) Elevated Pb levels of herbivorous small mammals at abandoned shooting range indicative of ammunition's mobility through the food chain once degraded.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

European mammal exposure to lead from ammunition and fishing weight sources

Chiverton

Cromie

Kock

2022

Heliyon

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“…Waterbirds, terrestrial gamebirds and other taxa may be poisoned following the ingestion of spent lead ammunition [ 13 – 15 ]. Many species of predatory and scavenging birds [ 6 , 7 ] and mammals [ 16 , 17 ] are affected across the world. Lead poisoning is estimated to kill millions of waterbirds every year [ 5 ] and suppress the populations of raptors across North America [ 18 , 19 ] and Europe [ 20 ] and thus is of substantial conservation significance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead ammunition residues in a hunted Australian grassland bird, the stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis): Implications for human and wildlife health

Hampton

Dunstan²,

Toop³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Scavenging and predatory wildlife can ingest lead (Pb) from lead-based ammunition and become poisoned when feeding on shot game animals. Humans can similarly be exposed to ammunition-derived lead when consuming wild-shot game animals. Studies have assessed the degree of lead contamination in the carcasses of game animals but this scrutiny has not so far extended to Australia. Stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) are one of the only native non-waterfowl bird species that can be legally hunted in Australia, where it is commonly hunted with lead shot. The aim of this study was to characterize lead contamination in quail harvested with lead-based ammunition. The frequency, dimensions, and number of lead fragments embedded in carcasses were assessed through use of radiography (X-ray). From these data, the average quantity of lead available to scavenging wildlife was estimated along with potential risks to human consumers. We radiographed 37 stubble quail harvested by hunters using 12-gauge (2.75”) shotguns to fire shells containing 28 g (1 oz) of #9 (2 mm or 0.08” diameter) lead shot in western Victoria, Australia, in Autumn 2021. Radiographs revealed that 81% of carcasses contained embedded pellets and/or fragments with an average of 1.62 embedded pellets detected per bird. By excising and weighing a sample of 30 shotgun pellets (all had a mass of 0.75 grain or 48.6 mg), we calculated an average lead load of 78 mg/100 g of body mass. This was a conservative estimate, because fragments were not considered. This level of lead contamination was comparable to hunted bird species examined using similar methods in Europe. The quantity and characteristics of lead ammunition residues found suggest that predatory and scavenging wildlife and some groups of human consumers will be at risk of negative health impacts.

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Assessing Lead Exposure in Free-Ranging Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota, USA

Cited by 8 publications

References 14 publications

Portable X-ray Fluorescence for Measuring Lead in the Hair of Wild Mammals

Portable X-ray Fluorescence for Measuring Lead in the Hair of Wild Mammals

European mammal exposure to lead from ammunition and fishing weight sources

Lead ammunition residues in a hunted Australian grassland bird, the stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis): Implications for human and wildlife health

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