title: Arsenic and lead contamination in soil and in feathers of three resident passerine species in a semi-arid mining region of the Mexican plateau.
abstract: The current study aimed at quantifying arsenic and lead in feathers from three passerine species that are residents from areas exposed to mining activities (Toxostoma curvirostre, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, and Melozone fusca). Lead and As contents in bird feathers and in superficial soil samples were measured with AAS. Levels of these metals were compared between sites exposed and unexposed to mining. Possible correlations of As and Pb between superficial soil and bird feathers were also investigated. Soil metal concentrations were significantly higher near mining sites, and metal concentrations in bird feathers showed a behavior similar to those recorded for soil samples. Individual birds from polluted sites had higher mean feather metal concentrations in comparison with non-polluted sites; no differences in metal concentrations were recorded among bird species. This work constitutes a basis for monitoring contaminants, and for future toxicological studies attempting to understand the impact that some mining activities may have on bird populations.
authors.affiliation: a Multidisciplinary Graduate Programs in Environmental Sciences, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí , México.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Monzalvo-Santos
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí , México.
authors.forename: Ma Catalina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alfaro-De la Torre
authors.affiliation: c Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí , México.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chapa-Vargas
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Geology, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí , México.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro-Larragoitia
authors.affiliation: e Northwestern Center for Biological Research, Division for Terrestrial Biology , La Paz , México.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Estrella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D020308:Songbirds
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Heavy metal pollution; mining areas; passerine birds; semiarid environments