Trace element concentrations (mercury, cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, aluminium, nickel, arsenic, and selenium) in some aquatic birds of the southwest Atlantic coast of France.
Trace elements (mercury [Hg], cadmium [Cd], copper [Cu], zinc [Zn], lead [Pb], aluminium [Al], nickel [Ni], arsenic [As], and selenium [Se]) were investigated using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in liver, kidney, muscle, and feather of aquatic birds wintering or inhabiting the wetlands situated on the Southwest Atlantic coast of France. A majority of greylag geese, red knots, and grey plovers were collected from among hunter-shot animals. The relation between residue concentrations, age (juvenile vs. adult), and sex was investigated. Trace elements were lower than threshold levels of toxicity, except for Pb. Greylag geese sampled could be considered Pb-poisoned. These consequential levels of contamination could be the result of the ingestion of Pb-shot from ammunition used in hunting areas they crossed during migration. Cd accumulation increased with age, whereas Pb levels in feathers were lower in adult birds in connection with moulting. As was influenced by sex. Female birds displayed higher concentrations in liver and feathers than did male birds.
Lucia
Magali
M
Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur Environnement et les Matériaux, 40004, Mont de Marsan Cedex, France. magali.lucia@etud.univ-pau.fr
André
Jean-Marc
JM
Gontier
Karine
K
Diot
Nicolas
N
Veiga
Jesus
J
Davail
Stéphane
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D009929:Organ Size; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D014131:Trace Elements; D014873:Water Pollutants