DISTRIBUTION OF CADMIUM IN BLOOD AND TISSUES OF WILD BIRDS

The principal aim of this study is to establish the kinetic behavior o f cadmium by determining the concentrations of this element in the blo od and in different tissues of wild birds exposed to environmental cad mium. We have studied a total of 118 birds living in the southeast of Spain, a zone with a Mediterranean climate and stopover point for impo rtant migratory species. The distribution pattern followed by the cadm ium in our samples reveals that the kidney is the primary organ for ac cumulation, followed by the liver and, to lesser extent, the brain and bone. Low concentrations were found in the tissues and in the blood. The study of correlations between the different tissues and blood sugg ests a compartmental behavior of cadmium under these exposure conditio ns.