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Comparative Study of Lead Concentration in Feathers of Urban and Rural Passerines in Merida, Mexico

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Abstract

Lead is a commonly monitored heavy metal because of potential health effects on exposed organisms. We quantified lead in secondary feathers of two passerine bird species, clay-colored thrushes (Turdus grayi) and great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus), from an urban and a rural site in the municipality of Merida, Yucatan. Urban lead concentration was significantly higher than its rural counterpart for both species (p < 0.05). In the urban site, lead concentration was similar in both species (p = 0.14). However, data from the rural site showed that lead concentration was significantly higher in thrush feathers (p < 0.05). Lead levels herein presented are among the lowest ever reported suggesting that either lead accumulation or absorption is limited. Finally, our data seem to support the hypothesis that species feeding ecology plays a major role in lead accumulation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was performed conforming to Mexican regulations and laws under permit provided by SEMARNAT (Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) Permit Number SGPA/DGVS/12648/13. Funding was provided by Conacyt (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología), Project No. 133090. We thank Merida’s City Council for support during fieldwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

    Remedios Nava-Diaz, Almira L. Hoogesteijn, Jose L. Febles & Rosa M. Mendez-Gonzalez

  2. Division de Ciencias Exactas, Quimica Analitica y Ambiental y Procesos Industriales, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Mercy Dzul Erosa

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  1. Remedios Nava-Diaz
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  2. Almira L. Hoogesteijn
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  3. Mercy Dzul Erosa
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  4. Jose L. Febles
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  5. Rosa M. Mendez-Gonzalez
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Correspondence to Almira L. Hoogesteijn.

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Nava-Diaz, R., Hoogesteijn, A.L., Erosa, M.D. et al. Comparative Study of Lead Concentration in Feathers of Urban and Rural Passerines in Merida, Mexico. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 95, 470–474 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1628-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1628-z

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