title: The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) as an environmental bioindicator species of heavy metal contamination.
abstract: This study aims to examine the possible presence of lead and cadmium in the liver and kidneys of hooded crows (Corvus cornix). Liver and kidneys of hooded crow carcasses were collected in Province of Cuneo (Piedmont, Italy) in order to detect lead and cadmium content. Significant differences were found in lead and cadmium levels between areas of intensive cultivation versus areas where meadows are prevalent. Moreover, age greatly influenced the burden of heavy metals, while sex did not seem to affect the level of contamination. The source of contamination may be phosphate fertilizers used for intensive cultivation in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prevention Asl CN 1, Cuneo, Via San Quirico 53/7, 10042, Nichelino, TO, Italy, iammino@libero.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giammarino
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quatto
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Squadrone
authors.forename: Maria Cesarina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Abete
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D046368:Crows / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005308:Fertilizers; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead