Lead levels of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from Madrid (Spain).
Tissue lead data are presented for populations of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from three locations in Madrid (Spain). The lead present in the lungs and digestive tract of pigeons increased progressively with traffic density and in parallel with atmospheric and ground lead values. The contribution of the respiratory route of Pb intake to the pigeons was about three times greater than the digestive route. The highest Pb values were found in bones. It is suggested that the pigeons gave a greatly magnified picture of lead pollution in cities than indicated by atmospheric lead concentrations.
Antonio García
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Dpto Biología Animal II (Fisiología Animal), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Martinez-Conde
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Corpas Vazquez
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