Heavy Metals in Livers of Waterbirds from Spain |
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Authors: | R Mateo R Guitart |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain, ES |
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Abstract: | Wetlands tend to accumulate heavy metals from local sources, such as Pb shot used for waterfowl hunting, and from regional
sources, such as atmospheric deposition and riverine or marine inputs. We determined concentrations of six heavy metals (Cr,
Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in livers of waterbirds shot by hunters in five Spanish wetlands to study the different factors that
can contribute to the accumulation of these metals (sex, age, diet, grit, and Pb shot ingestion). Differences among wetlands
were observed only for Cr, Cu, and Cd. Differences among species were observed for all the metals, and Cu was notably higher
in pochards (Aythya and Netta genus) than in other waterfowl. Cu, Zn, and Cd concentrations increased with age, and only Pb showed differences related
to sex, with males having higher concentrations than females. Most metals other than Pb were correlated with each other. Lead
was dependent on Pb shot ingestion. Grit ingestion positively correlated with concentrations of Cr and to a lesser extent
with Mn, Zn, and Cd. Ingestion of grit or shot may obscure relationships between metals and diet. Herbivorous species, which
had more grit in the gizzard, had higher Cr, Zn, and Cd concentrations. Granivorous birds, which have the highest rates of
Pb shot ingestion, had the highest concentrations of Pb. Grit and Pb shot ingestion are both important sources of heavy metals
for waterbirds. Lead was the single metal studied whose concentrations exceeded toxicity thresholds.
Received: 5 March 2002/Accepted: 12 June 2002 |
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