Abstract
Birds have historically suffered adverse effects by toxic elements, such as As, Pb, Hg, and Cd. However, reports on exposure to a wide range of elements, including rare earth elements and other minor elements of emerging concern, and the potential consequences for wildlife are still scarce. This study evaluates blood concentrations of 50 elements and their related effects on lutein and vitamin levels in the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula) and wild rock pigeon (Columba livia), inhabiting different scenarios of contaminant exposure. Blood concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb (and Mn in T. merula) were increased in both species captured in the mining area, compared to the control site. T. merula also showed increased As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in blood in the agricultural–urban area, as compared to the control area, together with the highest Hg levels, which could be related to agricultural practices and industrial activities. Decreases of 33 and 38% in the plasma retinol levels in T. merula inhabiting the mining and the agricultural–urban areas, respectively, as compared to the control site, were associated with increased Pb, As, and Cd exposure. This could be due to a metal-driven suppressive effect in retinol metabolism and/or its over-use for coping with metal-related oxidative stress.
Highlights
The Pb concentrations detected in blood of T. merula in the mining area are of special concern, being 58 times higher than the levels found in birds from the control area
A decrease of 33 and 38% in the plasma retinol levels in T. merula inhabiting the mining and the agricultural–urban areas, respectively, as compared to the control site, was associated with increased Pb, As, and Cd exposure. This could be due to a metal-driven suppressive effect in retinol storage and metabolism [5]
Local contamination in the mining area contributes to increased concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb in the blood of T. merula and C. livia, while potential differences in food quality and quantity in that environment may account for the decreased blood Sr in both species, as well as the decreased blood Mo, Se, plasma tocopherol, and lutein in T. merula
Summary
Metalloids and metals including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) are known to be toxic and have been ranked in the first positions within the Substance Priority List by the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) [6]. These toxic elements are extensively reported in tissues of different bird species, due to their bioaccumulation capacity and the negative effects they may cause, including alterations in growth, reproductive success, behavior, immune function, and biochemistry [2,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. In addition to the metals/metalloids classically studied, rare earth elements (REE) and other minor elements (ME) are of emerging concern because of their use in modern technology worldwide, leading to emissions and electronic waste [14,15]
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