Monitoring of heavy metal contaminants using feathers of shorebirds, Korea.
This study presents concentrations of iron, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in the feathers of 3 shorebird species (n = 29) from Okgu Mudflat, Korea in the East Asian-Australian Migration Flyways. Lead concentrations (ANOVA, p < 0.001) in Red-necked Stints (geomean = 9.61 μg g(-1) dry weight) were higher than in Terek Sandpipers (geomean = 5.56 μg g(-1) dry weight) which in turn were higher than in Great Knots (geomean = 2.78 μg g(-1) wet weight). Cadmium concentrations (ANOVA, p < 0.001) were higher in Great Knots (geomean = 2.97 μg g(-1) wet weight) and in Red-necked Stints (geomean = 2.70 μg g(-1) dry weight) than in Terek Sandpipers (geomean = 0.33 μg g(-1) dry weight). Lead (r = 0.574, p < 0.01) and cadmium (r = 0.380, p < 0.05) concentrations between feathers and livers of shorebirds were significantly correlated. Lead concentrations in 65.5% (19 individuals) of shorebirds exceeded a toxicity threshold for feathers (4 μg g(-1) dry weight). Iron, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium concentrations in feathers were within the range of earlier studies for wild birds, but lead concentrations in Red-necked Stints were higher than those reported in other studies. Because lead concentrations in feathers and livers of Red-necked Stints were markedly higher than in other shorebirds, we suggest that Red-necked Stints were exposed to higher lead concentrations than the other shorebirds on their breeding or wintering grounds.
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Republic of Korea.
Jungsoo
J
Kim
Jong-Min
JM
Oh
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007723:Korea; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy