title: Preliminary evaluation on the use of homing pigeons as a biomonitor in urban areas.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China. wxliu@urban.pku.edu.cn
authors.forename: W X
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Halbrook
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martineau
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002947:Cities; D010856:Columbidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D005843:Geography; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012621:Seasons; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons