Study on Metal Concentrations in Tissues of Mallard and Pochard from Two Major Wintering Sites in Southeastern Caspian Sea, Iran

Mohammad Hosein Sinka-Karimi, Ali Reza Pourkhabbaz, Mehdi Hassanpour, Jeffrey M. Levengood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Abstract We examined concentrations of cadmium, chromium, iron, lead and zinc in the kidney, liver, and pectoral muscle of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos; n = 30) and Pochards (Aythya ferina; n = 30) from two important wintering sites in the southeastern Caspian Sea in the winter of 2012. Mean lead concentrations (μg g-1 ww) in livers (2.36 ± 1.00) of Pochard and in kidneys (3.43 ± 0.91) of Mallard exceeded the exposure threshold levels in liver (1.5 μg g-1 ww) and kidney (3 μg g-1 ww) of waterfowl. Mean cadmium concentrations in livers (1.63 ± 0.66) of Pochards exceeded the background level of this metal in liver (1 μg g-1 ww) of waterfowl. Chromium, iron and zinc concentrations were within the normal range as reported in other duck studies. Gender-related and inter-specific variation of metal concentrations in analyzed tissues were observed (t test, p < 0.05). Our results indicated that waterfowl using the Miankalah and Gomishan International Wetlands are being exposed to elevated concentrations of cadmium and lead.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1591
Pages (from-to)292-297
Number of pages6
JournalBulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Volume95
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2015

Keywords

  • Caspian Sea
  • Mallard
  • Metal
  • Pochard
  • Threshold level

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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