Swan mortality due to certain heavy metals in the Mission Lake area, Idaho

Benson, Woodruff Whitman; Brock, Darrell W.; Gabica, Joe; Loomis, Maurice

doi:10.1007/bf01685156

Cited by 37 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Nevertheless, lead levels in the polluted area were still significantly higher than in the rest of the Southern subarea (p = 0.013). Considering that birds that spend significant amounts of time feeding in environments highly contaminated with lead (e.g., near metal mines) can be exposed to lead in the absence of lead shot ingestion (Benson et al 1976), and that 22% of the chicks born in the AMS presented lead levels above 15 lg/dl, we could suggest that especial effort should be taken for …”

Section: Blood Lead Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood lead levels and δ-ALAD inhibition in nestlings of Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) to assess lead exposure associated to an abandoned mining area

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In order to biomonitor lead contamination in Southeastern Spain, 218 blood samples from 28 to 30-day old Eurasian Eagle Owl chicks (Bubo bubo) born between 2003 and 2007 were analysed. In general, mean lead levels showed that chicks were exposed to background concentrations. However, mean levels in chicks born in an ancient and abandoned mining site ("Sierra Minera Cartagena-La Union") or in their surroundings (Geometric mean (GM) = 5.83 μg/dl, range 0.49-25.61 μg/dl), an area highly polluted by lead and other metals, were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the rest of the population (GM = 1.66 μg/dl, range = Non detected-18.37 μg/dl). Because δ-ALAD activity is considered the best biomarker for lead exposure and effect in birds, the activity of this enzyme was also evaluated and correlated with lead levels in blood. In this study, low levels of blood lead inhibited δ-ALAD, even when lead concentrations were lower than the limits described by other authors in raptors. Adverse effects caused by this inhibition may occur when blood lead levels were above 15 μg/dl, although only eight chicks presented these concentrations in their blood. Sampling site also influenced enzymatic activity, since it decreased about 60% in the polluted area in relation to the rest. For all these reasons, further research regarding risk assessment for lead exposure in Eagle Owls nesting in the polluted area is advisable. Our results suggest that the Eurasian Eagle Owl can be considered a suitable sentinel animal for monitoring lead contamination and δ-ALAD activity can be used as a sensitive biomarker for lead exposure and effect in this species.

show abstract

Section: Blood Lead Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood lead levels and δ-ALAD inhibition in nestlings of Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) to assess lead exposure associated to an abandoned mining area

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These tailings were washed downstream into the lower Coeur d'Alene River and lake system [2,3]. Previous studies have documented avian exposure to heavy metals in this area, mainly in waterfowl [4][5][6][7] but also in raptors [8,9] and some passerines [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead exposure in passerines inhabiting lead‐contaminated floodplains in the Coeur D'Alene River Basin, Idaho, USA

Johnson

Audet

Kern

et al. 1999

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract-Blood collected from song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and American robins (Turdus migratorius) captured with mist nets in a lead-contaminated (assessment) area and nearby uncontaminated (reference) areas within the Coeur d'Alene Basin in northern Idaho was analyzed for ␦-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALAD) and hematocrit levels, and livers were analyzed for lead. Mean ALAD inhibition in the assessment area was 51% in song sparrows and 75% in American robins. The proportion of the sampled population with ALAD inhibition Ͼ50% was calculated to be 43% for song sparrows and 83% for American robins. Assessment area hematocrit values for song sparrows (x ϭ 39.9) and American robins (x ϭ 39.5) were lower than in reference areas (x ϭ 42.4 for song sparrows and 40.2 for American robins); however, differences were not statistically significant (p Ͼ 0.05). Significantly higher levels of lead (wet weight) were found in livers from song sparrows captured on the assessment area (x ϭ 1.93 ppm) than on reference areas (x ϭ 0.10 ppm) (p ϭ 0.0079). Study results indicate that 43% (95% confidence interval [CI] ϭ 12.9-77.5%) of the song sparrows and 83% (95% CI ϭ 41.8-99.2%) of the American robins inhabiting the floodplain along the Coeur d'Alene River in the assessment area are being exposed to lead at levels sufficient to inhibit ALAD by Ͼ 50%. Variability in lead exposure indicators was attributed to high variability in environmental lead concentrations in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin.

show abstract

“…Mean blood lead concentrations of 5 to 6.2 μg/g on a wet-weight basis, liver lead of 20 to 23 μg/g, and kidney lead of 32 to 56 μg/g occurred for the mallards receiving unamended sediments and were similar to ones reported for waterfowl feeding at contaminated sites along the CDARB. For example, the livers of 5 tundra swans from a CDARB die-off in 1955 contained from 18 to 37 μg/g lead on a wet-weight basis (Chupp & Dalke, 1964), livers of 13 dead swans in 1974 contained 7 to 43 μg/g lead (Benson et al, 1976), and livers of 32 dead swans from 1987 to 1989 contained from 6 to 40 μg/g lead (Blus et al, 1991). Blood from 4 moribund swans from the 1987-1989 collection contained from 1.3 to 9.6 μg/g lead.…”

Section: Renal Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Waterfowl in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin (CDARB) of Idaho have been dying from lead poisoning since the early 1900s as a consequence of many decades of mining and smelting operations (Chupp & Dalke, 1964;Benson et al, 1976;Blus et al, 1991Blus et al, , 1995. Species affected have included mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus Amendment Reduces Hepatic and Renal Oxidative Stress in Mallards Ingesting Lead-Contaminated Sediments

Hoffman

Heinz

Audet

2006

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lead poisoning of waterfowl has been reported for decades in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin (CDARB) in Idaho as a result of the ingestion of lead-contaminated sediments. This study was conducted to determine whether the addition of phosphoric acid to CDARB sediments would reduce the bioavailability and toxicity of lead to the liver and kidney of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Mallards received diets containing 12% clean sediment (controls) or 12% sediment from three different CDARB sites containing 4520, 5390, or 6990 microg/g lead (dry weight) with or without phosphoric acid amendment. Liver and kidney lead concentrations were significantly higher in all CDARB treatment groups and ranged from geometric mean values of 18.2 (liver) and 28.7 (kidney) for the first 2 sites to 22.5 (liver) and 45.6 (kidney) microg/g (wet weight) for the third site. With amendments all liver lead concentrations were reduced 36 to 55%, and all kidney lead concentrations were lowered 54 to 73%. Unamended CDARB sediment from the third site resulted in the following hepatic effects: over 1.6-fold elevation of liver glutathione (reduced form; GSH) concentration, higher GSH S-transferase and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) reductase activities, and lower protein-bound thiols (PBSH) concentration. Renal effects included higher kidney GSH concentrations for all CDARB sites, with over 2.1-fold higher for the third site. Resulting kidney GSSG to GSH ratios were lower at two sites. At the third site, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity was elevated, and lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was 1.7-fold greater. Amendment restored all hepatic variables as well as the renal variables TBARS and GGT so they did not differ from controls. Although amendments of phosphorus substantially reduced the bioavailability of lead and some of the adverse effects, lead concentrations in the tissues of mallards fed the amended sediments were still above those considered to be harmful to waterfowl under the present conditions.

show abstract

Swan mortality due to certain heavy metals in the Mission Lake area, Idaho

Cited by 37 publications

References 6 publications

Blood lead levels and δ-ALAD inhibition in nestlings of Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) to assess lead exposure associated to an abandoned mining area

Blood lead levels and δ-ALAD inhibition in nestlings of Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) to assess lead exposure associated to an abandoned mining area

Lead exposure in passerines inhabiting lead‐contaminated floodplains in the Coeur D'Alene River Basin, Idaho, USA

Phosphorus Amendment Reduces Hepatic and Renal Oxidative Stress in Mallards Ingesting Lead-Contaminated Sediments

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About