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Concentrations of Metals, Metalloids, and Chlorinated Pollutants in Blood and Plasma of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Nestlings From Spain

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of different inorganic elements (lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], and arsenic [As]) and persistent chlorinated pollutants (including polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] and organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) in blood and plasma of White stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings from northwest (NW) Spain. The concentrations of PCBs were lower than the limit of detection in all samples. The OCPs γ-HCH, 4,4′-DDE, HCB, and endosulfan were detected most frequently in plasma from White stork nestlings. These OCPs were detected in 98, 54, 39, and 37 % of all samples, respectively. However, the concentrations of organic pollutants were lower than the risk thresholds for birds. The mean levels of the inorganic elements Pb, Hg, and As were found to be 36.92 ± 33.48, 16.48 ± 12.87, and 9.813 ± 13.84 µg/L, respectively. These levels were also lower than the risk thresholds for birds. This study not only provides a snapshot of the levels of both inorganic and organic contaminants in wild White storks in NW Spain, it also provides a useful baseline for biomonitoring levels of the measured contaminants in this area.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by Junta de Extremadura, Consejería de Economía e Infraestructuras (Ayuda GR15114), and FEDER Funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Area, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UEX), 10003, Caceres, Spain

    M. Pérez-López, I. De la Casa-Resino, D. Hernández-Moreno, J. Galeano, M. P. Míguez-Santiyán & F. Soler

  2. INBIO G+C Research Institute, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, 10003, Spain

    M. Pérez-López & M. P. Míguez-Santiyán

  3. Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile

    D. Hernández-Moreno

  4. Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain

    A. de Castro-Lorenzo

  5. Association for the Study and Conservation of Biodiversity, 27003, Lugo, Spain

    M. Otero-Filgueiras & O. Rivas-López

  6. IPROCAR Research Institute, University of Extremadura, 10003, Cáceres, Spain

    F. Soler

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  1. M. Pérez-López
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  2. I. De la Casa-Resino
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Correspondence to M. Pérez-López.

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Pérez-López, M., De la Casa-Resino, I., Hernández-Moreno, D. et al. Concentrations of Metals, Metalloids, and Chlorinated Pollutants in Blood and Plasma of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Nestlings From Spain. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 71, 313–321 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-016-0302-8

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