Aj. Garciafernandez et al., ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD IN 4 SPECIES OF RAPTORS IN SOUTHEASTERN SPAIN, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, 33(1), 1997, pp. 76-82
The purpose of this study was to monitor exposure to lead in four spec
ies of raptors in Southeastern Spain (Murcia Region). Samples of liver
, kidney, brain, blood, and bone from two species of diurnal raptors (
European kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and European buzzard (Buteo buteo
)) and two species of nocturnal raptors (Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and Lit
tle owl (Athene noctua)) were obtained during 1994. Relationships were
found between size and age of the birds, the nearness to areas of hum
an activity and lead concentrations in tissues. The lead distribution
pattern reveals that the bone is the principle organ for accumulation
(0.62-43 mg/Kg, dry weight), followed by the kidney (0.03-0.66 mg/Kg,
wet weight), and liver (0.017-0.05 mg/Kg, w.w.), and to lesser extent,
the brain (0.013-0.223 mg/Kg, w.w.). This distribution pattern indica
tes that raptors in Southeastern Spain were exposed to environmental l
ow lead levels continuously over an extended period of time. Correlati
ons between lead in bone and lead in soft tissues were higher in Europ
ean buzzards (r = 0.87-0.95) and Eagle owl (r = 0.71-0.86) than those
found in European kestrels (r = 0.53-0.58) and Little owls (r < 0). Ho
wever, correlations between lead concentrations in soft tissues and in
blood were high (r = 0.85-0.99).