Heavy metals in soft tissue of white-tailed eagles found dead or moribund in Germany and Austria from 1993 to 2000

Residues of the potentially toxic metals lead, mercury, and cadmium were an alyzed in liver and kidney tissue of 61 free-ranging white-tailed eagles (H aliaeetus albicilla) found dead or moribund in Germany and Austria between 1993 and 2000. Highest values and the widest range were detected for lead i n Liver and for mercury in kidney tissue. Lead concentrations considered to induce lethal lead poisoning (>5 ppm wet wt) were determined in 28% of liv er samples. Lead fragments were detected in the gizzards of two specimens, presumably having died from lead intoxication. Histopathological findings i n a recently dead white-tailed eagle indicating acute lead exposure compris e degenerative Purkinje cells in the cerebrellum and inclusion bodies in re nal tubular cells. Mercury residues in organs are decreasing compared to fo rmer studies in periods when organomercury compounds were used as seed dres sing. All cadmium Values were low or are at background levels in white-tail ed eagles. The present study clearly identifies lead as a toxic metal poiso n in white-tailed eagles in Germany and Austria.