Sparrows as Possible Heavy-Metal Biomonitors of Polluted Environments

Gragnaniello, S.; Fulgione, Domenico; Milone, M.; Soppelsa, O.; Cacace, Pasquale; Ferrara, Luciano

doi:10.1007/s001280068

Cited by 28 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Therefore, assessing pollutants in different components of the ecosystem has become an important task in preventing risk to natural life and public health. 3 Analyzing pollutants in living organisms is more attractive and promising than analyzing pollutants of the abiotic environment, as living organisms provide precise information about the bioavailability of pollutants and the magnification and bio-transference of pollutants. 4 Earlier studies have led to an increased interest in the use of birds as monitors of geographical, historical and global pat-terns of heavy metal pollution in the environment, as they occupy a wide range of trophic levels in different food chains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Monitoring urban heavy metal pollution using the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

2006

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The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is one of the most successful birds in the urban environment, and has a global distribution. The present study aims to provide baseline data about metals in sparrows from urban environments in the West Bank and to investigate the possibility of using the House Sparrow to monitor metal pollution in urban environments. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn were measured in different tissues and organs of male and female juvenile (1-4 weeks old) and adult House Sparrows from the West Bank. Tissues and organs had the following order of metal richness: liver > stomach > bone > lung, feathers > muscles > egg contents, brain > heart > egg shell. Significant correlation coefficients were observed for the concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the egg shell and for the egg contents. Male and female Sparrows showed no significant differences in their metal concentrations. Adult Sparrows collected from rural areas were found to have significantly less Cu, Pb, and Zn (but not Cd) concentrations than those from urban environments. In order to investigate metal accumulation with age, metal concentrations were plotted against age stage (egg, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-week-old juveniles and adults). Significant relationships were observed between age stage and Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations. The results provide some evidence for the potential of the House Sparrow as a biomonitor for urban heavy metal pollution. However, further issues regarding metal physiological regulation and the correlations between metals in the environment and those in tissues of the House Sparrows have to be addressed before recommending this bird as a biomonitor for urban metal pollution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is reflected by the limited number of studies investigating this bird. 3,22,23 The House Sparrow is a non-migratory sedentary bird that is primarily associated with urban environments. It inhabits houses, farms, villages, industrial facilities, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring urban heavy metal pollution using the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

2006

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“…The following suggested characteristics of an avian biomonitor were established from the work of others (International Joint Commission, 1985;Burger and Peakall, 1995; State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference, SOLEC 1998; Gragnaniello et al, 2001), and our observations during project planning for an ecotoxicological study of African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) and marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) in Uganda (Hollamby et al, 2004a,b,c,d). The resultant list is one view of the ideal requirements for a biomonitoring program utilizing avian species.…”

Section: Suggested Characteristics Of a Avian Biomonitormentioning

confidence: 97%

“…There appear fewer publications providing guidance in establishing the suitability of avian species as biomonitors (Burger and Peakall, 1995;Gragnaniello et al, 2001). An animal has characteristics defined at the class, order, genus and species level that should be considered when assessing its suitability as a biomonitor species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Suggested Guidelines for Use of Avian Species as Biomonitors

Hollamby

Afema-Azikuru

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et al. 2006

Environ Monit Assess

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An animal's suitability as a biomonitor of environmental change can be determined by biological, reproductive and ecological characteristics determined at the class, order and species level. The animal's habitat where the research is to be performed and the form, function and structure of the environmental change being studied within that habitat also determines suitability. Non-threatened populations of large, non-migratory, long-lived, seasonally-breeding tertiary avian predators, whose dietary preferences are narrow and known, can be useful as monitors of environmental chemical contaminants. If chemicals are being monitored, a quantifiable endpoint effect must be demonstrated in the species, or a similar species under experimental laboratory conditions. Logistical and economic issues as well as public and regulatory authority acceptance should also be considered when assessing the suitability of a species as a biomonitor.

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“…Avian species are potentially valuable biomonitors and have been previously used to evaluate environmental pollutants (Gragnaniello et al 2001;Hollamby et al 2006;Deng et al 2007). Feral pigeons (Columba livia) are a cosmopolitan avian species that have been used to evaluate contaminants in urban areas and have been recommended for environmental monitoring (Hutton and Goodman 1980;Ohi et al 1981;Johnston and Janiga 1995;Schilderman et al 1997;Lee 2005, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary evaluation on the use of homing pigeons as a biomonitor in urban areas

et al. 2009

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This study evaluates the usefulness of homing pigeons as a biomonitor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban environments. The mean concentrations of total PAHs in liver and lung tissues were greater in pigeons from Beijing compared to pigeons from Chengdu, however, this difference was only statistically significant for PAH concentrations in liver tissue (P < 0.05). Similarly, the severity of anthracosis or pneumoconiosis in lung tissue and hepatitis in liver tissue was greater in pigeons from Beijing compared to pigeons from Chengdu. Low molecular weight PAHs dominated the contribution of individual PAHs in both tissues. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for most low and moderate molecular weights PAHs in liver and for some low and high molecular weights PAHs in lung between the two cites. The profile patterns of individual PAHs were similar between lung tissue of pigeons and between local ambient airs in summer for both cities, whereas the profile patterns between liver tissue and pigeon food were less similar. These data suggest that homing pigeons may be of value as a biomonitor of environmental pollution in urban areas.

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Sparrows as Possible Heavy-Metal Biomonitors of Polluted Environments

Cited by 28 publications

References 0 publications

Monitoring urban heavy metal pollution using the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Monitoring urban heavy metal pollution using the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Suggested Guidelines for Use of Avian Species as Biomonitors

Preliminary evaluation on the use of homing pigeons as a biomonitor in urban areas

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