Concentration of Trace Elements in Raptors from Three Regions of Slovakia, Central Europe

Abstract

Slovakia situated in the territory of Central Europe has a rich mining and industrial history with a strong pollutive impact on the environment, with heavy metals and metalloids as the most often analysed pollutants. Despite a relatively advanced toxic elements research, none enquiry has been performed in birds of prey, the most suitable bioindicators, in Slovakia yet. Regarding the lack of information, the presented study represents the first integrated results of the contamination status of raptor species with selected trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese and lead). In all, livers and muscles of 80 individuals across twelve species were collected and analysed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Within the study, copper was the element detected with the highest concentrations, in several individuals overlapping the toxic threshold. Additionally, the results disclosed high hepatic lead concentrations, pointed to the probability of acute poisoning through lead shot ingestions, in three birds of prey. Subsequent comparative analyses revealed significantly higher concentrations of mercury in surveyed Spiš and Tatry region when compared with the other two sampling regions. Also, the highest average and median values concerning liver concentrations of cadmium and manganese and muscle concentrations of chromium were measured in samples originated from this region. The whole territory of the Spiš and Tatry region is covered by national parks and protected areas, and several European Important Bird Areas occurred there. Together with rich mining and smelting history and also the existence of natural geochemical anomalies, toxic elements biomonitoring should be continued in this area.Finally, it can be concluded that the first oriented research in Slovakia showed that the concentration of monitored metals in the liver and muscles of birds of prey did not exceed the established tolerable

Lead, cadmium, and other trace elements in the liver of golden eagles and white-tailed eagles: recent data from Poland and a systematic review of previous studies

“…S2 ), the difference was not confirmed by the GLM analysis ( Χ 2 = 1.21, p = 0.27). The levels we found in the eagles were comparable to those recently reported in other raptors from Slovakia (Hurníková et al 2021 ) but tens of times lower than those found in previous decades in white-tailed eagles from the Baltic coast (Fig. 5 ).…”

Metals in the Réunion harrier: tissue concentrations and meaning for conservation

“…Considering Cd, its toxicity on wildlife due to nephrotoxicity, carcinogenicity, anaemia, or interaction with the metabolism of calcium and other essential elements is well-documented and may also lead to disturbance in reproduction (Eisler 1985). The main driver of exposure of wildlife to Cd is the degree of contamination of their habitats (Hurníková et al 2021). If its breeding habitat is mainly associated to the open woodland, the Réunion harrier forages in diversi ed habitats including agricultural areas (Bretagnolle et al 2000) that have been shown to be contaminated by Cd due to the use of mineral fertilizers in the Réunion island (Doelsch et al 2006b).…”

Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil and Fruit of Major Blueberry Growing Areas in Guizhou Province

“…Guizhou Province had the largest blueberry planting area and output in China at the end of 2020 [1], with blueberries becoming one of the main agricultural products driving the local economy. The soil environment is the foundation of agricultural development, and environmental health is inextricably linked to agricultural product quality and safety [2,4]. Soil, as the growth environment of crops, has a considerable impact on the heavy metal content of crops [5,6].…”