Metal Levels in Eggs of Waterbirds in the New York Harbor (USA): Trophic Relationships and Possible Risk to Human Consumers

Abstract

Health professionals are interested in evaluating the risks that heavy metals pose to eco-receptors and humans. The objective of this study was to examine levels of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and other contaminants in waterbirds nesting in the New York harbor in 2012 to determine (1) whether there were species and locational differences, and (2) whether consumption of eggs posed a health risk to predators or humans. For arsenic (As), Pb, Hg, and selenium (Se), species contributed more to variations in levels than location; for Cd and chromium (Cr), location was more significant. Mean metal levels differed among species for all metals, except Cd. Highest levels were As (great black-backed gulls, Larus marinus), Cr (great egret, Ardea alba), Pb (Canada goose, Branta canadensis), and Hg and Se (black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax). There were significant locational differences only for herring gulls (Larus argentatus); significant differences were found for all metals. Levels of Hg and Pb may be sufficiently high in eggs of some species to produce adverse effects in predators that eat them. The proportion of samples above 0.3 ppm Hg (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] freshwater criteria for freshwater fish), the contaminant of health concern, ranged from 0% (Canada goose, great egret), to 14 and 27% in gulls, to 50% (black-crowned night heron). Some herring gull, great black-backed gull, and black-crowned night heron eggs had 0.5 ppm or higher Hg. Thus, human consumption of eggs may pose a risk to fetuses and young children.

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

“…Among the Anatidae from New Jersey (USA), in the eggs of Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ), the concentration of lead measured in recent studies was 0.483 ± 0.108 μg/g dw and in eggs of mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ), it was 0.186 ± 0.036 μg/g dw (Tsipoura et al 2011 ). Eggs of Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ) from South Brother Island (New York Harbor) and Mill Rock (New York Harbor) contained 0.313 ± 0.072 μg/g dw and 0.837 ± 0.587 μg/g dw, respectively (Burger and Elbin 2015b ). In the eggs of the eider ( Somateria sp.…”

“…In Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, MN (USA), the concentration of lead in eggs of the black-crowned night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) was 0.039 ± 0.011 μg/g dw (Burger and Gochfeld 1996a ). The concentrations of lead in black-crowned night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) eggs on South Brother Island (New York Harbor) and Mill Rock (New York Harbor) were 0.370 ± 0.141 μg/g dw and 0.054 ± 0.034 μg/g dw, respectively (Burger and Elbin 2015b ).…”

Quantitative Analysis of Toxic Metals in Buffalo Milk Samples from Mumbai Suburban Region by ICP-AES

“…The presence of heavy metals in various farm inputs, including feed, fertilizer, water and environment leads to excretion of the residues in animal's milk (Younus et al, 2016). Heavy metals accumulate in tissues of dairy animals and ultimately excrete in milk because of their non-biodegradable and persistent nature (Burger and Elbin, 2015).…”

Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution Status of the Pasture Grass around Katima Mulilo Municipal Solid Wastes Dumpsite, Namibia

“…Prolong ingestion of the heavy metals contaminantbearing pasture grass by cattle may lead to bio-accumulation of toxic metals into their body organs and this has adverse health implication for humans who consume beef and dairy milk products from these cattle. Heavy metals accumulate in tissues of dairy animals and are ultimately excreted in milk because of their non-biodegradable and persistent nature [21], [22], [23]. Milk as an excretion of the mammary gland can carry numerous xenobiotic substances, which constitute safety risk factor for dairy products and health of the consumer [24].…”