Monitoring of non-destructive sampling strategies to assess the exposure of avian species in Jiangsu Province, China to heavy metals

To assess the exposure of avian species in Jiangsu Province, China to eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn), the flight feathers, eggshells and feces of total ten avian species (including four herons, four cranes, one stork and one gull) were collected during March to May in 2012. The total concentrations of As, Cd and Hg were measured by Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer; Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The determined concentrations of Cr (3.94, 1.33–8.30 mg kg−1), Cu (15.02, 7.34–35.53 mg kg−1) and Zn (134.66, 77.26–242.25 mg kg−1) in fresh feathers and Cd (7.93, 7.44–9.12 mg kg−1), Ni (22.74, 19.38–24.71 mg kg−1), Pb (85.06, 78.72–91.95 mg kg−1) and Zn (63.54, 55.82–72.14 mg kg−1) in eggshells were higher than the mean values of other reported data, indicating a considerable heavy metal pollution status in local area. Comparing to the heavy metal levels in early historic feathers (1992–2000), a significant elevation of concentrations has been observed in recent bird feathers. For feathers of Grus japonensis, the heavy metal concentrations increased by 19–267%. This increased tendency was consistent with local GDP (Gross Domestic Products) development. The anthropogenic economic activity especially industrial development may be a critical reason that caused the increase of heavy metal levels in local avian species.

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