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Concentrations of Metals in Blood and Feathers of Nestling Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays

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An Erratum to this article was published on 04 March 2008

Abstract

In 2000, 2001, and 2002, blood and feather samples were collected from 40–45-day-old nestling ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay and River. Concentrations of 18 metals, metalloids, and other elements were determined in these samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, and Hg concentrations were measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. When compared to concurrent reference areas (South, West, and Rhode Rivers), mean As and Hg concentrations in blood were greater (p < 0.05) in two of three Chesapeake Bay regions of concern (Baltimore Harbor [As: 1.18 vs. 0.548 μg/g dw], Anacostia River [Hg: 0.305 vs. 0.178 μg/g dw], and Elizabeth River [As: 0.876 vs. 0.663 μg/g dw; Hg: 0.260 vs. 0.180 μg/g dw]). Lead was detected more frequently in blood of nestlings from the highly industrialized Elizabeth River compared to the rural reference area. When compared to the concurrent reference area, mean Al, Ba, Hg, Mn, and Pb concentrations in feathers were substantially greater (p < 0.05) in one or more Chesapeake regions of concern (Anacostia River [Al: 206 vs. 62.1 μg/g dw; Ba: 3.31 vs. 0.823 μg/g dw; Mn: 65.4 vs. 22.9 μg/g dw] and Elizabeth River [Al: 165 vs. 63.5 μg/g dw; Hg: 1.24 vs. 0.599 μg/g dw; Pb 1.47 vs. 0.543 μg/g dw]). When compared to the coastal Inland Bays reference area, feathers of nestlings from northern Delaware Bay and River had greater concentrations (p < 0.05) of Ba (1.90 vs. 0.660 μg/g dw), Fe (258 vs. 109 μg/g dw), Mn (18.5 vs. 4.66 μg/g dw), Mo (0.130 vs. 0.040 μg/g dw), Pb (1.96 vs. 0.624 μg/g dw), and V (0.671 vs. 0.325 μg/g dw), presumably due to extensive metal-working and petroleum refinery activities. Concentrations of Hg in nestling feathers from Delaware were frequently greater than in the Chesapeake. The present findings and those of related reproductive studies suggest that concentrations of several heavy metals (e.g., Cd, Hg, Pb) in nestling blood and feathers from Chesapeake and Delaware Bays were below toxicity thresholds and do not seem to be affecting chick survival during the nestling period.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Environmental Quality, and Delaware Coastal Programs. The authors thank E. Broderick, C. Koppie, R. Lukei, Jr., J. Miller, R. Scarborough, and D. Stotts for assistance with field collections; the U.S. Coast Guard for granting access to navigational aids; John F. Moore and Peter M. Gross for quality assurance of the chemical analyses; and David J. Hoffman for reviewing a draft of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, BARC-East, Building 308, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, USA

    B. A. Rattner, N. H. Golden & P. C. Toschik

  2. Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA

    N. H. Golden & P. C. Toschik

  3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401, USA

    P. C. McGowan

  4. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54603, USA

    T. W. Custer

Authors
  1. B. A. Rattner
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  2. N. H. Golden
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  3. P. C. Toschik
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  4. P. C. McGowan
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  5. T. W. Custer
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Correspondence to B. A. Rattner.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9143-4

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Rattner, B.A., Golden, N.H., Toschik, P.C. et al. Concentrations of Metals in Blood and Feathers of Nestling Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 54, 114–122 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9004-6

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