Monitoring of Pb Exposure in Waterfowl Ten Years after a Mine Spill through the Use of Noninvasive Sampling

摘要: Lead exposure in waterfowl was studied using noninvasive fecal sampling the Guadalquivir Marshes Spain, an area affected by 1998 Aznalcollar mine disaster. Feces of greylag geese (Anser anser, n = 191) and purple gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio, 91) were collected from three different impacted sites (Entremuros, Caracoles Cerro de los Ansares) during winters 2004 to 2008. aluminium (an indicator sediment ingestion) Pb isotope signatures (to discriminate between sources exposure) analyzed freeze-dried, acid digested samples. The concentrations porphyrins biliverdin determined as biomarkers study effects. Results showed a decrease over time wintering geese. In contrast, for resident Entremuros clear trend not evident. For both species, ingestion appeared be main source Pb. Entremuros, some samples detected with higher levels than expected simple soil ingestion, these had isotopic profiles compatible mining sludge or shot. Whilst effective differentiating pollution, combined use element ratios (such Pb/Al) other non-traditional stable may also prove worthwhile. Overall, below those described feces uncontaminated areas(<10 µg/g d.w.). Despite this, species positively correlated porphyrin excretion, gallinule, coproporphyrin III/I ratio, suggesting subtle effects on heme synthesis birds. Ten years after spill, contamination birds this pollution still detectable subtlethal persist.