Longitudinally monitored lifetime changes in blood heavy metal concentrations and their health effects in urban birds

0523374 - ÚIACH 2021 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Bauerová, P. - Krajzingrová, T. - Těšický, M. - Velová, H. - Hraníček, J. - Musil, Stanislav - Svobodová, J. - Albrecht, Tomáš - Vinkler, M.
Longitudinally monitored lifetime changes in blood heavy metal concentrations and their health effects in urban birds.
Science of the Total Environment. Roč. 723, JUN (2020), č. článku 138002. ISSN 0048-9697. E-ISSN 1879-1026
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA15-11782S; GA ČR GAP505/10/1871
Institutional support: RVO:68081715 ; RVO:68081766
Keywords : ecotoxicology * hematology * white blood cells * risk elements
OECD category: Analytical chemistry; Zoology (UBO-W)
Impact factor: 7.963, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Limited access

Urban heavy metal pollution can impair the health of humans and other organisms inhabiting cities.While birds
are suggested as one of the appropriate bioindicators for essential and non-essential trace element monitoring, the process of particular elements' accumulation in blood and its possible adverse health effects during ageing of individuals remain unexplored. We have investigated lifetime changes in blood lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and searched for links to health-related traits in sub-urban free-living great tit (Parus major) population monitored over a long period of time. The blood As concentrations were under the limit of detection in most samples. The blood Pb levels showed a non-linear relationship to individuals age, where the highest Pb concentrations weremeasured in nestlings and in a very small group of highly senescent birds (over 7 years old), while no clear trend was observed for themajority of the adult age stages. No agerelated patternswere found for blood Cd or Zn concentrations. The positive relationship between date of capture and blood Cd and Zn levelsmay reflect seasonal changes in diet composition.Wedid not reveal any anaemia-like conditions (decreased total erythrocyte count or increased immature erythrocyte count) in relation to blood heavy metal concentrations in the investigated birds.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0307731