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Monitoring air pollution at Mohammedia (Morocco): Pb, Cd and Zn in the blood of pigeons (Columba livia)

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Abstract

The concentrations of Pb, Cd and Zn were investigated in the blood of pigeons (Columba livia) in order to assess the degree of pollution by heavy metal. For this, wild city pigeons were caught at four different locations in Mohammedia classified according to their industrial activity and road traffic density. Significant difference in heavy metal concentrations were observed between sites studied, the highest lead and cadmium levels were found in industrial area and center town, while the highest zinc level was found in the less contaminated area. These results indicate that the industrial activities and the road traffic are the most important source of pollution.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Institute of hygiene (NIH). Lead, Cadmium and Zinc analyses were performed at the laboratory of toxicology of NIH. We are grateful to Mr. Said FILAHI from Directorate of National Meteorology for his assistance to the realization of the stations location map by the Arc Gis software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département Génie des Procédés et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Mohammedia, Université Hassan II, B.P. 146, Mohammedia, Morocco

    N. Kouddane & L. Mouhir

  2. Laboratoire d’Ecotoxicologie, Institut Scientifique, Université Mohamed V, Agdal, B.P. 703, Rabat, Morocco

    M. Fekhaoui

  3. Laboratoire de Toxicologie et d’Hygiène industrielle, Environnementale, et de Recherches Médicolégales, Institut National d’Hygiène, Ministère de la santé, Rabat, Morocco

    A. Elabidi & R. Benaakame

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  1. N. Kouddane
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  2. L. Mouhir
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  3. M. Fekhaoui
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  4. A. Elabidi
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  5. R. Benaakame
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Correspondence to N. Kouddane.

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Kouddane, N., Mouhir, L., Fekhaoui, M. et al. Monitoring air pollution at Mohammedia (Morocco): Pb, Cd and Zn in the blood of pigeons (Columba livia). Ecotoxicology 25, 720–726 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1631-0

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