Heavy Metal Accumulations of 4 Species of Anseriformes in Korea

Abstract

The study figured out the tendency of distribution of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), and compared and examined the heavy metal accumulations among species by measuring the heave metal accumulations in major organs (liver, muscle, kidney and bones) targeting 31 birds in 4 species(Cygnus cygnus, Anser albifrons, Aix galericulata and Anas formosa) of Anseriformes. Concentration of lead (Pb) in tissues was generally high in kidney (1.54 μg/wet g) or bones (5.94 μg/wet g), and concentration of cadmium (Cd) was generally high in kidney (0.474 μg/wet g) and low in muscles (0.019 μg/wet g). As shown above, there was no bird containing more than the standard amount of cadmium (Cd) among Anseriformes, but the study confirmed from 3 species (Cygnus cygnus, Anser albifrons, Aix galericulata and Anas formosa) containing lead at exposed levels and at poisoned levels. It is judged that the study result will be used as a comparing material for studies monitoring heavy metal of Anseriformes, a winter bird and a bio-indicator in an aquatic ecosystem and a basic material for reasonable environmental policy of lead shots and lead sinker in the future.