Tissue levels of lead in experimentally exposed herring gull (Larus argentatus) chicks

Abstract

Two-day-old herring gull (Larus argentatus) chicks were injected with either 0.1 or 0.2 mg lead/g body mass and were sacrificed at 45 d of age. Control birds were injected with sterile water. We examined lead and cadmium levels in blood, kidney, liver, muscle, salt glands, breast feathers, and bone. In control birds lead levels were highest in bone, feathers, salt gland, and kidney, and lowest in blood, muscle, and brain. In experimental birds lead levels were highest in bone, liver, kidney, and feathers, and lowest in blood, muscle, and salt gland. In control birds cadmium levels were highest in the kidney, followed by liver, with blood and brain being the lowest. Lead-exposed birds had increased cadmium deposition in brain. For experimental birds lead levels were correlated for all tissues except the salt gland. Correlations were particularly high for feathers with brain, kidney, liver and bone, suggesting feathers can be used in biomonitoring of natural avian populations. For cadmium there were no significant correlations among tissue levels except for brain and liver. Bioamplification of lead was greatest for liver and blood, and lowest for muscle and salt gland when comparing a lead dose of 0.1 mg/g with controls.

Heavy metals in laughing gulls: Gender, age and tissue differences

“…However, our data from laughing gulls indicated few significant relationships among different metals, suggesting that analyzing for one metal will not provide information on other metal concentrations. The kinetics of metals among body tissues, including feathers, are only partly understood, and our knowledge comes mainly from only a few laboratory studies with mercury [13,24] and lead [25]. Additional data come from comparing metal levels in different tissues [4].…”

Lead accumulation in feathers of nestling black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) experimentally treated in the field

“…Burger and Gochfeld [10] found a dosedependent increase of lead in feathers of laboratory-maintained juvenile herring gulls (Larus argentatus) as well as correlations of lead levels in feathers with concentrations in several other tissues. Burger and Gochfeld [10] found a dosedependent increase of lead in feathers of laboratory-maintained juvenile herring gulls (Larus argentatus) as well as correlations of lead levels in feathers with concentrations in several other tissues.…”

“…Only first-and secondhatched nestlings were used in order to prevent potentially confounding effects of reduced survival and growth rate found in later-hatched siblings [8]. Three doses of lead (low, medium, and high) were chosen to fall within the range of sublethal effects in birds [10,11] and to represent levels of lead contamination below, at, and above those existing in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays [2] based on lead uptake by feathers in other controlled studies [10]. The injection volume was 0.01 ml/g body weight.…”

“…Progeny of lead-treated ringed turtle doves (Streptopelia risoria) reared in captivity exhibited elevated feather, bone, and liver concentrations as compared to progeny of untreated adults [16]. 22, 2003 N.H. Golden et al [10]; ᭝ ringed turtle dove, laboratory [16]; □ great white egret, field [17]; ⅷ great white heron, field [18]; ࡗ herring gull, field [19]; ᭡ Franklin's gull, field [20]; Ⅵ Laysan albatross, field [21]; ϫ black-crowned night heron, present study) Points are mean concentrations cited from studies; all values normalized to dry weight using a 1:5 conversion for kidney, 1:4 for liver, and 1:3 for bone. Data from juvenile birds from a total of seven published studies [10, [16][17][18][19][20][21] and the present investi-Environ.…”

Disrupted Patterns of Behavior in Natural Populations as an Index of Ecotoxicity

“…It has been demonstrated for a wide spectrum of populations of peregrines that eggshell thinning of more than 17 to 18% is associated with population declines (11). Ratcliffe (12) (20). A wider range of doses was used in the experiments on terns (21).…”