Authors : Martin E. Pereda-Solis, Jose H. Martinez-Guerrero and Jose A. Toca-Ramirez
Abstract: Concentrations of zinc, lead, cadmium and arsenic were determined in hepatic tissue of three groups of aquatic birds (ducks, geese and shorebirds) from a wetland irrigated with water from the wastewater treatment plant of the city of Durango, Mexico. Researchers collected liver portions from 50 birds obtained by hunters during the 2010-2011 hunting season. Metals and metalloid concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The four chemicals were detected in 100% of the samples. The results of a Kruskal-Wallis test were not significant (p>0.05) among mean concentrations of Zn, Cd and As for the three groups of birds but the average concentration of Pb in geese was higher (p<0.05) than in the other two bird groups. An individual of the species shoveler (Anas clypeata) has a maximum Cd concentration of 31.98 ppm (dry weight) and the highest value of Zn was 256 ppm (dw) that belonged to an individual of snow goose (Chen caerulescens). Values of metals and metalloids obtained in this study do not represent a commitment on health of birds.
Martin E. Pereda-Solis, Jose H. Martinez-Guerrero and Jose A. Toca-Ramirez , 2012. Estimation of Hepatic Levels of Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Aquatic Birds from a Wetland Irrigated with Residual Water in the City of Durango, Mexico. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 826-830.