title: Heavy metals in the mallard Anas platyrhynchos from eastern Austria.
abstract: A total of 77 specimens of the mallard Anas platyrhynchos were sampled from the eastern part of Austria before the ban on lead gun shot for hunting water fowl. Samples of muscle and liver were analyzed for their content of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Hg and Pb using atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition the Hg content of feather samples from this aquatic bird species was evaluated. Results generally show higher concentrations of the metals in the liver compared to muscle; for mercury the concentrations were feathers>liver>muscle. Elevated, in some cases critical concentrations of Cr, Cu, Cd, Hg and Pb were measured. Levels of Ag were recorded for the first time for this species from Europe, providing basic information for future evaluation of this upcoming pollutant in aquatic environments.
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plessl
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jandrisits
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krachler
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Keppler
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; University of Johannesburg, Dept. of Zoology, P. O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa. Electronic address: franz.jirsa@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jirsa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001317:Austria; D004372:Ducks; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Lead; Mercury; Silver; Trace elements; Water fowl