Abstract
A large quantity of trace metals has been continuously polluting the environment as a result of increasing urbanization and industrial processes. In 2016-2017, the metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels were determined in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) at Bais Godam (industrial location) in Jaipur and Chittora (rural location) in Rajasthan, India. Fecal pellets in industrial regions which are under higher anthropogenic influence exhibited higher metal concentrations when compared with the fecal pellets of the same species in rural area which have minimal anthropogenic input, with statistically significant industrial-rural differences in the metal concentrations except for Ni. Results obtained in this study, as well as the comparison with literature data, indicated that concentrations of Cr and Cu were high in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon in the industrial region of the present study. Furthermore, many significant correlations were also observed between metal levels in the industrial region which could be attributed to a similar source. Moreover, contamination levels of pigeon excrement serve as one of the most compelling indicators in terrestrial systems for the monitoring of metal pollution levels.
Highlights
Heavy metal contamination is a continual global problem, especially evident in industrial regions where mobile and stationary sources discharge large quantities of pollutants comprising trace metals like nickel, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, cadmium, lead, cobalt, chromium and mercury in soil, vegetation and atmosphere exceeding the natural emission levels (Bilos et al 2001, Chen & Chen 2001)
The second objective of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that individuals within a species have higher metal concentrations in an industrialized environment than those who live in rural areas, and this study investigated whether pigeon’s excrement serves as one of the most compelling indicators for the monitoring of metal pollution levels
The concentration of six trace metals was detected from the fecal pellets of the blue rock pigeon (Table 1)
Summary
Heavy metal contamination is a continual global problem, especially evident in industrial regions where mobile and stationary sources discharge large quantities of pollutants comprising trace metals like nickel, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, cadmium, lead, cobalt, chromium and mercury in soil, vegetation and atmosphere exceeding the natural emission levels (Bilos et al 2001, Chen & Chen 2001). A consolidation of environmental legislation, regulations, and the development of technology has resulted in diminished industrial emissions during the past decades (Kozlov et al 2009). These metals are non-biodegradable, but they can be bio-amplified in the tropic web at low levels, making them increasingly dangerous. Previous studies have sparked interest in using avian birds as monitors for trace metal contamination at local, ancient, and global levels in the ecosystem because of their wide range of trophic occupancy in the food chain. As far as we know, a number of articles, from different parts of the globe, have reported heavy metal contamination in pigeon excreta (Kaur & Dhanju 2013, Kler et al 2014)
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