title: Lead and cadmium in the blood of nine species of seabirds, Marion Island, South Africa.
abstract: Levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were investigated as potential stressors in nine species of breeding seabirds on Marion Island, South Africa. The majority of blood Pb levels (95 %) were below background exposure levels. Species was a significant factor in ranked means analysis for mean blood Pb levels. Fewer individual blood Cd levels (<60 %) were within background exposure levels and species was not significant. Elevated levels of Cd have been documented in other seabird species without apparent outward effects, which suggests that seabirds may be adapted to high cadmium environments, particularly from their diets. Overall, the results suggest Pb and Cd are not primary causes for concern in these seabirds.
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, 261 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA, carlyfsummers@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carly F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Bowerman
authors.forename: Nola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Wayne Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Bridges
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D062312:Islands; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D013019:South Africa; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead