Trace Element Bioaccumulation in Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus, Linnaeus, 1758): A Case Study from Sicily (Italy).

Chiara Copat,Rosario Grasso,Béatrice V. Hernout,Margherita Ferrante,Flavia Giunta,Alfina Grasso,Maria Teresa Spena,Andrea Messina

doi:10.3390/ijms21134597

Chiara Copat, Rosario Grasso + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21134597

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Abstract

The study aimed to highlight the degree of trace element contamination along three sites of Sicily: the Magnisi peninsula (MP), located in proximity to the Augusta–Priolo–Melilli petrochemical plant; the Ragusa agro-ecosystem (RA), characterized by a rural landscape; and the Gela plain (GP), characterized by intensive agriculture and a disused petrochemical plant. We collected biological samples (abraded back feathers and blood) of the Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus Linnaeus, 1758) as well as soil samples to determine the trace elements concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Se and V using ICP-MS analysis. The results found for the three sites show different trends of accumulation, which depend on the different management and geological characteristics of the areas. The Gela plain and Magnisi peninsula showed a higher degree of contamination (As, Co, Cu, Mn and Se for the Gela plain; Pb and Hg for the Magnisi peninsula). Nevertheless, no critical values were found for either the environment—if the results are compared with the legal limits fixed by the Legislative Decree No. 152/2006, approving the Code on the Environment—or for living organisms—if the results are compared with the toxicological thresholds for birds, especially if the short-term exposure results from the blood values are considered. Only the Se levels in animal blood from the RA and GP were found slightly higher than the minimum level required in bird diets. The positive scenario can be attributed on the one hand to the interruptions of emissions of the Gela refinery around 5 years ago, and on the other hand to the more intense and strict controls that are implemented in the area surrounding the petrochemical pole of Augusta–Priolo–Melilli.

Highlights

Environmental pollution is a topic of high interest, especially due to the drastic increase in pollutants released into the environment observed through the last decade
The Se concentrations in the blood of animals from the three sites do not differ significantly from each other; the values found in the Gela plain and Ragusa agro-ecosystem could be of concern since they are higher than the minimum level required in the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) diet according to Stout et al (2010) [45], ranging from 0.130 to 0.200 mg/kg w.w
In the Magnisi peninsula, higher concentrations of Hg, Pb and Zn in the soil were found; the concentrations are below the limit fixed by the Legislative Decree No 152/2006, the 75◦ percentile of the Se concentrations (3.6 mg/kg d.w.) from the Magnisi peninsula, as we found in the Gela plain, is slightly above the legal limits

Summary

Introduction

Environmental pollution is a topic of high interest, especially due to the drastic increase in pollutants released into the environment observed through the last decade. Non-essential metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), as well as metalloids, such as arsenic (As), represent important types of pollutants since they are persistent in the environment [7,8] and can be harmful to organisms when taken up in small amounts [9,10,11]. Essential metals, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), are considered essentials for maintaining a good metabolism. Whereas the deficiency of essential metals can elicit negative effects, an excess of these metal concentrations in the organism may elicit several toxic effects [12,13]

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