Lead and cadmium in wild birds in southeastern spain

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to monitor exposure to lead and cadmium in wild birds in Murcia, a southeastern region of Spain on the Mediterranean coast. This region lies on one of the African-European flyways. Samples of liver, kidney, brain, bone, and whole blood from several species of wild birds were obtained during 1993. We found a clear relationship between cadmium and lead concentrations in birds and their feedings habits. Vultures (Gypsfulvus) had the highest concentrations of lead (mean 40 pg/dl in blood), and seagulls (Larus argentatus and Larus ridibundus) the highest concentrations of cadmium (mean 4.43 pg/g in kidney). Insectivores had high concentrations of both metals, and diurnal and nocturnal raptors showed the lowest tissue concentrations. The finding that tissue and blood concentrations were generally not elevated suggests environmental (rather than acute) exposure. Birds from more industrialized areas of the region studied here had higher concentrations of both lead and cadmium

Blood δ-ALAD, lead and cadmium concentrations in spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) from Southeastern Spain and Northern Africa

“…Detection limits were 1.5 lg/l for lead and 0.25 lg/l for cadmium. The repeatability, which was determined by analyzing 10 identical samples of reconstituted lyophilized blood (European Union Reference Standards) CRM195, was 96.5 ± 1.2% for lead, and 94.2 ± 3.2% for cadmium (García-Fernández et al 1995).…”

“…Complete digestion was ensured by using high temperature digestion with a mixture of acids following the method described by García-Fernández et al (1995). All the reagents used were Suprapur quality from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany).…”

Examination of Eurasian Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus fulvus) in Israel for Exposure to Environmental Toxicants Using Dried Blood Spots

“…''Normal'' blood levels of birds in the Falconiformes order are considered to be \200 ng/ml, with toxic levels being [1000 ng/ml (Franson 1996). Six GV in southeastern Spain had a mean blood Pb concentration of 379 ng/ml (maximum value 500) (Garcia-Fernandez et al 1995). Seven other raptor species in the same study had considerably lower levels (means from 79-118 ng/ml).…”

“…Cd was found in these latter two studies at mean levels of 1.1 ng/ ml in Egyptian vultures and 6.8 ng/ml in black kites. However, a specific investigation in 6 GV in Spain showed a greater mean of 110 ng/ml in whole blood (maximum value 200) (Garcia-Fernandez et al 1995). No known toxicity threshold exists for Cd in the blood of birds (Wayland et al 2008b).…”

Intoxicación por munición de plomo en aves silvestres en España y medidas para reducir el riesgo

“…En la Sierra de Cazorla, 21 (91 %) de 23 buitres leonados capturados vivos tenían >20 µg/dl de plomo en sangre y dos de ellos tuvieron >150 µg/dl (García-Fernández et al 2005). Niveles altos de plomo en sangre (>20 µg/dl) habían sido también observados previamente en otros seis buitres leonados en Murcia (García-Fernández et al 1995). El alimoche en las Islas Canarias presenta una mayor vulnerabilidad a la intoxicación por plomo por el hecho de ser sedentario, a diferencia de las aves continentales que migran a África en invierno.…”