BIOAVAILABILITY OF LEAD FROM CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT IN NORTHERN BOBWHITES, COLINUS-VIRGINIANUS

Sediment from Killarney Lake, Idaho was added to the diet of captive n orthern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) to determine absorption of Pb from contaminated sediment. The sediment, containing 4,500 mu g g(-1) Pb dry weight (d.w.), was added to ground poultry ration at 8% dry mat ter intake (DMI) for 21 days. Concentrations of Pb in blood, liver, an d kidneys of each bobwhite were determined and compared to concentrati ons in untreated control bobwhites. Treated bobwhites showed no signif icant decline (P > 0.05) in food intake or body mass over time. In 90% of treated bobwhites, blood Pb concentrations reached levels associat ed with clinical Pb poisoning (> 0.8 mu g g(-1) wet weight, w.w.); and all treated bobwhites had elevated liver and kidney Pb concentrations . It was shown that tissue Pb accumulation can occur from ingestion of Pb-contaminated sediment.