Effects of smelter emissions on metal levels in the plumage of ruffed grouse near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Rose, George A.; Parker, G. H.

doi:10.1139/z82-342

Cited by 36 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Subsequently, absorbed metals are delivered to target or storage organs or sequestered in feathers (Braune 1987; Lewis and Furness 1991) or other tissues. In some environments, feathers are susceptible to increased metal accumulation by external contamination (Goede and deBruin 1986; Rose and Parker 1982), although such external contamination might be much less in remote areas, and vigorous washing removes significant external contamination.…”

Section: Materials and Analytical Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and Other Metals in Feathers of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

2008

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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We analyzed arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in the feathers of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) and tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) from Amchitka and Kiska islands (Aleutians). Between species, puffins had 10 times higher chromium (arithmetic mean = 1820 ppb), 7.5 times higher selenium (mean = 6600 ppb), and 3 times higher mercury (mean = 2540 ppb) than eiders. Eiders had significantly higher levels of manganese than puffins. Puffins are higher on the food chain than eiders, which is reflected in their generally higher levels of metals in their feathers. Interisland differences were generally small, and there were few significant differences as a function of the three nuclear test locations on Amchitka. The only sex-related difference was that female puffins had higher mercury than males (arithmetic mean of 3060 ppb vs. 2270 ppb). Mean levels of metals in the feathers of puffins and eiders from the Aleutians were low compared with comparable studies elsewhere, and the relatively low levels of metals do not indicate the potential for adverse behavioral or reproductive effects in the birds themselves, nor pose concern for other consumers, including subsistence hunters.

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Section: Materials and Analytical Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and Other Metals in Feathers of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

2008

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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“…Hg presented a more complex dynamic than Se and Pb, as shown by its additional association with stable isotope signatures and by the differences in levels between sexes. Dissociation between stable isotope signatures and Se or Pb levels could result from stable isotopes being deposited through dietary intake, whereas Se and Pb could have been deposited directly from the atmosphere onto the bird plumage (Rose and Parker 1982;. A number of studies with terrestrial birds reported that Pb levels increase as feathers age or are more exposed than those lying under other plumage (e.g.…”

Section: Differences In Hg Se and Pb Among Colonies And Sexesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of breeding colony and sex on mercury, selenium and lead levels and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures in summer and winter feathers of Calonectris shearwaters

et al. 2008

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Contamination in marine foodwebs is nowadays of great environmental concern owing to the increasing levels of pollution in marine ecosystems from different anthropogenic sources. Seabirds can be used as indicators of regional contaminant patterns across large temporal and spatial scales. We analysed Hg, Se and Pb levels as well as stable isotope ratios of C ( grown during breeding also showed sexual differences in Hg concentrations and d 13 C. Differences in Hg concentration between sexes are mainly due to egg-laying decontamination in females. In contrast, differences in Hg among colonies are probably related to differences in trophic ecology, as indicated by d 13 C and d 15N measurements. Contaminant concentrations in winter-grown feathers did not show any relationship with stable isotope values but were affected by contaminant loads associated with the breeding season. These findings suggest that the interpretation of contaminant levels of migratory species from feathers moulted out of the breeding season should be made with caution because those values could reflect exposures to contaminants acquired during the breeding season. We conclude that factors other than feeding ecology may play an important role in the interpretation of contaminant levels and their annual dynamics at several spatial scales. Consideration of the relevant temporal context provided by isotopic signatures and contaminant concentrations is important in deciphering contaminant information based on various tissues.

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“…Rose and Parker (1982) examined the reliability of feathers as an accurate measurement of the accumulation of metals in a bird. Emerging feathers are keratinized and become physiologically isolated from the rest of the bird as they lose vascular and nervous system connections.…”

Section: Bioaccumulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essentiality of nickel and homeostatic mechanisms for its regulation in terrestrial organisms

Phipps¹,

Tank²,

Wirtz³

et al. 2002

Environ. Rev.

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Nickel (Ni) is a naturally occurring element with many industrial uses, including in stainless steel, electroplating, pigments, and ceramics. Consequently, Ni may enter the environment from anthropogenic sources, resulting in locally elevated concentrations in soils. However, Ni is a minor essential element, and, therefore, biota have established systems that maintain Ni homeostasis. This paper discusses the role of Ni as an essential element and reviews storage, uptake, and transport systems used to maintain homeostasis within terrestrial biota. The bioaccumulation and distribution of metals in these organisms are also addressed. In all cases, information on Ni essentiality is very limited compared to other essential metals. However, the available data indicate that Ni behaves in a similar manner to other metals. Therefore, inferences specific to Ni may be made from an understanding of metal homeostasis in general. Nevertheless, it is evident that tissue and organ Ni concentrations and requirements vary considerably within and between species, and metal accumulation in various tissues within a single organism differs as well. High rates of Ni deposition around smelters indicate that Ni in acidic soils may reach concentrations that are toxic to plants and soil decomposers. However, with the exception of hyperaccumulator plants, Ni does not biomagnify in the terrestrial food web, suggesting that toxicity to higher trophic levels is unlikely.

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Effects of smelter emissions on metal levels in the plumage of ruffed grouse near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Cited by 36 publications

References 13 publications

Mercury and Other Metals in Feathers of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

Mercury and Other Metals in Feathers of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

The influence of breeding colony and sex on mercury, selenium and lead levels and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures in summer and winter feathers of Calonectris shearwaters

Essentiality of nickel and homeostatic mechanisms for its regulation in terrestrial organisms

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