Year-to-year correlations in blood metal levels among individuals of two species of North American sea ducks.
Environ Pollut
; 150(3): 329-37, 2007 Dec.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17376567
ABSTRACT
Sea duck populations have declined in North America. Contaminants, especially metals, have been listed as possible contributing factors. Sea ducks are long-lived. Thus, individuals chronically exposed to elevated metal levels may be at greatest risk. Information about long-term exposure (> or =1year) of individuals to metals is absent. To address this information gap, we examined year-to-year correlations among individual White-Winged Scoters and King Eiders in levels of blood cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium. Positive correlations (r> or =0.43), were found in six, five, five and two of seven correlations for cadmium, selenium, lead and mercury. Thus, certain individuals of these species may be exposed over two or more years to higher levels of cadmium, selenium and lead (but apparently not mercury) than other individuals. Single blood samples are appropriate metrics of exposure for studies that examine long-term effects of certain metals on these birds.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Metals, Heavy
/
Ducks
/
Environmental Pollutants
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Environ Pollut
Journal subject:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Year:
2007
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM