Heavy metal and metallothionein concentrations in Atlantic Canadian seabirds

Abstract

Seabird tissues, collected during the 1988 breeding season from colonies on the Atlantic coast of Canada, were analyzed for toxic metals--Cd, Hg and Pb--and 18 other trace elements. Metallothionein (MT) was measured in kidney, and kidneys and livers underwent histopathological examination. Levels of most essential trace elements appear to be closely regulated in seabird tissues; values were in good agreement with those previously reported in the published literature. Liver-Se concentrations in Leach's storm-petrels (Oceanodroma leukorrhea) (77.6 + 7.49 micrograms/g dry weight) were much higher than values normally reported for free-living birds and mammals. Cd levels varied greatly among individuals, but were always higher in kidney than in liver. Highest mean Cd concentrations (183 + 65 micrograms/g dry weight) were in kidneys of the planktivorous Leach's storm-petrels from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A few individuals of this species had values greater than 300 micrograms/g dry weight. Cd and metallothionein (MT) concentrations were positively correlated in kidneys of Leach's storm-petrels (r = 0.692), Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) (r = 0.845) and herring gull (Larus argentatus) (r = 0.866). Concentrations of total Hg varied greatly among species and individuals, but were consistently higher in liver than in kidney. Highest mean levels (21 + 28 micrograms/g) were in livers of the piscivorous double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) from Saint John Harbour in the Bay of Fundy. Concentrations of Hg and Se were positively correlated (r = 0.736) in livers of Leach's storm-petrel, but not in other species. Pb concentrations were consistently greatest in bone, with mean levels being highest in herring gulls from a colony in the Bay of Fundy (63 + 36 micrograms/g). Histological examination of liver and kidney failed to reveal indications of tissue damage associated with elevated levels of heavy metals.

Heavy Metals, Resting Metabolism Rates and Breeding Parameters in Two Populations of Black-Headed GullLarus ridibundusfrom the Industrially Polluted Areas of Upper Silesia, Poland

“…Patchy necrosis were identified in kidneys of the seabirds accumulating 94.5-228 μg/g cadmium (Nicholson et al 1983), however this is not a rule (Eliott et al 1992). In adult Herring Gulls L. argentatus, collected in Atlantic coast of Canada, renal burden with cadmium ranged from 11 to 69 μg/g dry weight, but in the liver reached values ten times lower (Elliott et al, 1992). Our data are more comparable with the levels found in kidneys of the Puffin Fratercula arctica or Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa studied by the same authors (Elliott et al 1992).…”

“…In adult Herring Gulls L. argentatus, collected in Atlantic coast of Canada, renal burden with cadmium ranged from 11 to 69 μg/g dry weight, but in the liver reached values ten times lower (Elliott et al, 1992). Our data are more comparable with the levels found in kidneys of the Puffin Fratercula arctica or Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa studied by the same authors (Elliott et al 1992). The levels reported in our study also demonstrate that cadmium concentrations in the ovary were as high as in the kidneys, but expected reproductive abnormalities were not confirmed when we examined pathological changes in birds.…”

Comparison of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in feathers in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and comparison with common eider (Somateria mollissima), glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba), and tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

“…In general, mercury, cadmium and lead are of primary concern in marine environments (Mailman, 1980;, they are non-essential, and are toxic (Elliott et al 1992). Each will be discussed below.…”

Feather mercury levels in seabirds at South Georgia: influence of trophic position, sex and age

“…Mattig et al 1997). Although previous studies found no clear patterns and associations of mercury levels with diets (Muirhead & Furness 1988, Elliott et al 1992b), recent studies on seabirds could relate mercury concentrations to the mercury burden of their prey (Monteiro et al 1995, 1996, Stewart et al 1999, Arcos et al 2002. Mercury is the heavy metal showing the clearest biomagnification in food chains (Honda et al 1987, Atwell et al 1998.…”