LEAD AND CADMIUM IN WILD BIRDS IN SOUTHEASTERN SPAIN

The main purpose of this study was to monitor exposure to lead and cad mium in wild birds in Murcia, a southeastern region of Spain on the Me diterranean coast. This region lies on one of the African/European fly ways. Samples of liver, kidney, brain, bone, and whole blood from seve ral species of wild birds were obtained during 1993. We found a clear relationship between cadmium and lead concentrations in birds and thei r feedings habits. Vultures (Gyps fulvus) had the highest concentratio ns of lead (mean 40 mu g/dl in blood), and seagulls (Larus argentatus and Larus ridibundus) the highest concentrations of cadmium (mean 4.43 mu g/g in kidney). Insectivores had high concentrations of both metal s, and diurnal and nocturnal raptors showed the lowest tissue concentr ations. The finding that tissue and blood concentrations were generall y not elevated suggests environmental (rather than acute) exposure. Bi rds from more industrialized areas of the region studied here had high er concentrations of both lead and cadmium.