Birds as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution: review and examples concerning European species

• Main Author: Dmowski, Krzysztof
• Other Authors: Polska Akademia Nauk. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii
• Format: Text
• Language: English; Polish
• Published: Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN 1999
• Subjects: birds; effects of heavy metals; heavy metals; Europe; bioindication; biomonitoring; biomarkers; Aves; Ptaki > skutki oddziaływania metali ciężkich > Europa [KABA]; bioindykacja; biomarkery; Accipiter gentilis
• Online Access: https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/45196/content

Bibliogr. p. 18-23 P. [1]-25 : ill. 27 cm Abstract in Polish. Taxa in Latin The following species of sedentary birds with widespread and common occurrence are the most convenient as bioindicators: Magpie Pica pica, Feral Pigeon Columba livia f. domestica, House Sparrow Passer domesticus or Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, Blackbird Turdus merula, Goshawk Accipiter gentilis (feathers) and nestlings of various species. The non-destructive method of feather analysis is suitable mainly for assessment of Pb, Cd, As, Sb, Ge, Tl, Se, and Hg. It cannot be applied for Mn, Ni, Sr, Rb, Mo and Fe that are cumulated in feathers at similar levels in polluted and unpolluted areas. Hg, Zn, Cu, Cr, As and Se have stronger affinity to keratin than others. The method requires strict standardisation, particularly in the way samples are to be collected and prepared for mineralisation. None of feather cleaning procedures removes all contaminants from vane surfaces. With respect to many elements, analysing "concentration in feathers" is a measurement of external deposition therefore metal levels found in feathers correspond more strongly to the data on immission than to the element pool available in food. Mercury is an exception here. In cases of toxic elements as Pb, Cd or Tl it is possible to predict their concentrations in internal tissues on the basis of feather analysis. Bibliogr. s. 18-23 S. [1]-25 : il. 27 cm Streszcz. pol. Nazwy taksonów także w jęz. łac. The following species of sedentary birds with widespread and common occurrence are the most convenient as bioindicators: Magpie Pica pica, Feral Pigeon Columba livia f. domestica, House Sparrow Passer domesticus or Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, Blackbird Turdus merula, Goshawk Accipiter gentilis (feathers) and nestlings of various species. The non-destructive method of feather analysis is suitable mainly for assessment of Pb, Cd, As, Sb, Ge, Tl, Se, and Hg. It cannot be applied for Mn, Ni, Sr, Rb, Mo and Fe that are cumulated in feathers at similar levels in ...