SEASONAL BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN MARSH HARRIERS CIRCUS-AERUGINOSUS FROM CHARENTE-MARITIME, FRANCE - RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HUNTING SEASON

This paper reports on lead contamination in marsh harriers Circus aeru ginosus throughout the year. Blood samples were taken from pulli, fled ged (first year) birds and adults. The results show very low blood lea d (PbB) concentrations in pulli (median 0.8 mu g/dl PbB). A marked sea sonal difference in the distribution of PbB concentrations in first ye ar/adult birds was found Significantly more birds had an elevated (>30 mu g/dl or >60 mu g/dl) PbB concentrations within than outside the hu nting season, reflecting different levels of exposure to lead shot dur ing these periods. In addition, a high proportion of regurgitated mars h harrier pellets contained lead shot during the hunting season (autum n/winters 1994 and 1995-25% and 15.6%, respectively), whilst only 1.4% of pellets contained shot during spring 1994, after the hunting seaso n. These results provide compelling evidence that spent lean shot carr ied in the carcasses of prey is the source of lead contamination in ma rsh harriers in Charente-Maritime. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.