Blood Lead Levels of Wild Steller's Eiders (Polysticta Stelleri) and Black Scoters (Melanitta Nigra) in Alaska Using a Portable Blood Lead Analyzer

Abstract

Sea duck populations are declining in Alaska. The reasons for the decline are not known; environmental lead exposure is one suspected cause. Thirty wild Steller's eider ducks (Polysticta stelleri) and 40 wild black scoter ducks (Melanitta nigra) were tested for blood lead levels using a portable blood lead analyzer (LeadCare; ESA, Inc., Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824, USA). Sixty-seven and one-tenth percent of the sea ducks had undetectable blood lead levels, 30.0% had values indicating normal or background lead exposure, and 2.9% had values indicating lead exposure. None of the birds had values indicating lead toxicity, and no birds demonstrated clinical signs of toxicity. Birds in areas with higher human population density had higher blood lead levels than those in less densely populated areas. This is the first time a portable blood lead analyzer has been utilized with sea ducks in a field setting. Because it provides immediate results, it is valuable as a screening tool for investigators carrying out surgical procedures on birds in the field as well as establishing baseline blood lead data on sea ducks. Lead exposure does occur in wild sea ducks, and the study indicates that additional research is needed in order to determine the role environmental lead plays in declining sea duck populations.

Comparative Health Assessment of Western Pacific Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea) Foraging Off the Coast of California, 2005–2007

“…Using guidelines established for birds, lead exposure in foraging California leatherback turtles (0.20260.067 ppm) falls at the boundary between background level (,0.2 ppm), and recent exposure (0.2-0.590 ppm) to lead (Brown et al, 2006).…”

Urban health and ecology: the promise of an avian biomonitoring tool

“…Furthermore, both cadmium and lead concentrations measured in the erythrocytes of Eurasian blackbirds Turdus merula can accurately estimate circulating levels, demonstrating that very small blood samples are sufficient to measure these metals ( Coeurdassier et al 2012 ). Portable blood analyzers have also been used to measure lead concentrations in blood within natural populations, which allows for immediate in-field assessment ( Brown et al 2006 ).…”

Comparison of Two Methods for Blood Lead Analysis in Cattle: Graphite-Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Leadcare® II System

“…3,5,9 Results of studies found a good correlation between LCS and GFAAS on avian samples, with 93% agreement between methods on blood samples from waterfowl. 3 Furthermore, because analysis only takes minutes, captured birds need be held only briefly to determine the necessity of treatment before release. LCS could be useful in a large clinical veterinary practice for the same reasons it is useful in field research.…”

“…LeadCare has been used for Pb detection in human medicine and to a limited extent in veterinary medicine. [3][4][5]7,12,13,16 The manufacturer recommends that the blood samples be analyzed within 24 hr of collection.…”

“…Previous comparisons of LeadCare to GFAAS analyzed human and avian blood and used the original LCS kit, not the LCS II kit used in the present study [3][4][5]9,11,16 (a literature search revealed no previous reports that used LCS II). LCS II was developed as a more robust kit, with less risk of technical error.…”