Lead (Pb) in the tissues of Anatidae, Ardeidae, Sternidae and Laridae of the Northern Hemisphere: a review of environmental studies

Abstract

Due to the ability of birds to travel long distances in the air, the potential feeding area of each individual is much larger than that of typical terrestrial animals. This makes birds a convenient indicator of environmental lead (Pb) pollution over large areas, in particular areas of inland and coastal waters. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of Pb in various organs of water birds from a variety of locations. The focus was on ducks, geese and swans ( Anatidae ); herons and egrets ( Ardeidae ); terns ( Sternidae ); and gulls ( Laridae ). This article describes the level of lead in the most commonly studied tissue types: feathers, bones and the liver. The study also presents data concerning the concentration of lead in the eggs of water birds. The highest levels of lead pollution can be observed in China and Korea, related to their high level of industrialization. In Iran too, environmental lead pollution is high, likely due to the developed petrochemical industry. Lead pollution in Japan, as well as in Western European countries (Spain, France, Italy), seems to be much lower than in China, India or Iran. Nevertheless, the level of pollution in Europe is higher than satisfactory, despite the introduction of a number of bans related to, for example, the use of leaded petrol or lead-containing paints. Finally, the USA and Canada appear to be the areas with the lowest lead pollution, possibly due to their low population densities.

Trace element levels in the muscles of three tern species (Aves: Laridae) from the western Arabian Gulf: environmental assessment and implications for conservation

“…Information on the concentration levels of these elements in terns is fragmentary. Only a few research studies focused on the tissues of Laridae as reported for lead contamination in the review of Korbecki et al ( 2019 ) or Hg by Zamani-Ahmadmahmoodi et al ( 2014 ), and no studies have been conducted on tissues of T. bergii , S. repressa and O. anaethetus .…”

“…Among seabirds, terns have been the subject of different environmental studies showing that Laridae are excellent bioindicators of TEs pollution (Khademi et al, 2015 ; Kitowski et al, 2018 ; Korbecki et al, 2019 ; Michelutti et al, 2010 ; Zamani-Ahmadmahmoodi et al, 2014 ). However, these latter studies did not take into consideration all types of TEs nor all tern species.…”

Heavy metals and metalloid levels in the tissues of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) from Spain: sex, age, and geographical location differences

“…5). Korbecki et al (2019) also reported the differences in metal levels (Pb) found in feathers depending on the studied area and species. In general, feathers have been reported as a potential non-invasive tool for metal biomonitoring in seabirds (Hernández-Moreno et al 2021).…”

“…Some of the most relevant chemicals included in biomonitoring studies are metals. The appearance of metals in different tissues of animals often has been linked to specific urban areas (Korbecki et al 2019 ). In fact, there is a need to carry out ecotoxicological studies to obtain data on specific species over a wider range.…”

Selenium Mitigates Prenatal Lead-Induced Toxicity on Cerebral Cortex of Wistar Rats Pups

“…It exists in a variety of organic and inorganic compounds with a multitude of additional uses in the manufacture of protective paints for iron, steel, explosives, and rodenticide [3]. There are several measures put in place lately to checkmate industrial activities that result in Pb poison, and as well to prevent the careless introduction of lead from other sources [4]. However, these measures brought about positive changes, lead is still ranked among the top two most dangerous environmental toxicants hampering the health of humans [2,5].…”