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Trace Element Concentrations (Mercury, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Aluminium, Nickel, Arsenic, and Selenium) in Some Aquatic Birds of the Southwest Atlantic Coast of France

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Abstract

Trace elements (mercury [Hg], cadmium [Cd], copper [Cu], zinc [Zn], lead [Pb], aluminium [Al], nickel [Ni], arsenic [As], and selenium [Se]) were investigated using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry in liver, kidney, muscle, and feather of aquatic birds wintering or inhabiting the wetlands situated on the Southwest Atlantic coast of France. A majority of greylag geese, red knots, and grey plovers were collected from among hunter-shot animals. The relation between residue concentrations, age (juvenile vs. adult), and sex was investigated. Trace elements were lower than threshold levels of toxicity, except for Pb. Greylag geese sampled could be considered Pb-poisoned. These consequential levels of contamination could be the result of the ingestion of Pb-shot from ammunition used in hunting areas they crossed during migration. Cd accumulation increased with age, whereas Pb levels in feathers were lower in adult birds in connection with moulting. As was influenced by sex. Female birds displayed higher concentrations in liver and feathers than did male birds.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Conseil Général des Landes (France) for financial support as well as the hunting federation of the Gironde (France) and the Laboratoire Départemental des Landes (France) for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur Environnement et les Matériaux, 40004, Mont de Marsan Cedex, France

    Magali Lucia, Jean-Marc André, Karine Gontier & Stéphane Davail

  2. Domaine de Pachan, Fédération Départementale Des Chasseurs de la Gironde, 33290, Ludon-Médoc, France

    Nicolas Diot & Jesus Veiga

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  1. Magali Lucia
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  2. Jean-Marc André
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  3. Karine Gontier
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  6. Stéphane Davail
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Correspondence to Magali Lucia.

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Lucia, M., André, JM., Gontier, K. et al. Trace Element Concentrations (Mercury, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Aluminium, Nickel, Arsenic, and Selenium) in Some Aquatic Birds of the Southwest Atlantic Coast of France. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 58, 844–853 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-009-9393-9

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