Influence of a Mine Tailing Accident Near Do�ana National Park (Spain) on Heavy Metals and Arsenic Accumulation in 14 Species of Waterfowl (1998 to 2000)

Abstract

This article presents the impact on waterbirds in Doñana National Park (Spain) of an accidental release of 5 million m3 acid waste produced by the processing of pyrite ore. Heavy metals (zinc, copper, cadmium, and lead) and arsenic were measured in several soft tissues (liver, kidney, and muscle) taken from 14 waterfowl species collected between April 1998 and May 2000. The main source of copper and zinc found in the waterfowl species examined was the spill waste, whereas cadmium, lead, and arsenic could also came from other sources. Kidney was the primary organ for cadmium and lead accumulation, whereas liver accumulated the most zinc and copper. Arsenic was concentrated in both muscle and liver tissue. The degree of contamination of the area where the birds lived, their age, their sex their size, and the time since the spill were found to have less influence than species and trophic level on the accumulation of metal in organs and tissues. Four species (Anser anser, Ciconia ciconia, Larus ridibundus, and Porphyrio porphyrio) were found to have the highest levels of the 5 elements.

Impact of cadmium on aquatic bird Cairina moschata

“…However, in some field studies, very high concentrations were reported in birds' kidneys which represent the main internal organ for the accumulation of this metal (Barjaktarovic et al 2002;Trust et al 2000). During this study, Cd showed the same pattern of accumulation in tissues as those previously established for bird tissues and organs (Gómez et al 2004;Kalisinska et al 2004;Nam et al 2005). Indeed, kidney was the main site of Cd accumulation demonstrating the role of this organ in detoxification and storage of non essential elements.…”

Evidence of species-specific detoxification processes for trace elements in shorebirds

“…Indeed, Cd concentrations of adult birds were significantly above concentrations of Evidence of species-specific detoxification process 2357 juveniles in muscle but below juveniles in feathers. Age is one of the main factors explaining Cd accumulation, as observed in waterfowl from southern Spain (Gómez et al 2004). With continued exposure, even at low levels, Cd is accumulated throughout the life span of birds (Dailey et al 2008).…”

“…Adults may therefore be able to deposit Cd in their plumage and subsequently eliminated it through moulting. Nonetheless in this study Cd mainly accumulated in the kidneys, which represent the major internal organ for accumulation of this non-essential element (Barjaktarovic et al 2002;Gómez et al 2004;Kojadinovic et al 2007). …”

A Mutant of the Arabidopsis Phosphate Transporter PHT1;1 Displays Enhanced Arsenic Accumulation

“…Arsenic can be solubilized in ground water, exposing animals and humans to potentially toxic effects (Nickson et al, 1998;Meharg and Hartley-Whitaker, 2002;Gó mez et al, 2004;Katz and Salem, 2005).…”