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Title: Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the Pacific Basin using avian feathers

Abstract

The authors used avian feathers to biomonitor heavy-metal distribution in several areas in the Pacific Basin including Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, China, Johnston Atoll, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. This paper is a preliminary synthesis of data gathered by the Pacific Basin Biomonitoring Project. They examined levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and manganese. For sooty terns (Sterna fuscata) and brown noddy (Anous stolidus) mercury levels were lower in the Pacific than in Puerto Rico in the Atlantic, but his was reversed for lead and cadmium. Adult birds had higher metal levels in their feathers than did young birds of the same species from the same area. Cadmium levels were higher in terrestrial species; lead, chromium, and manganese were highest in coastal species; and mercury and selenium were highest in marine species. Mercury levels were lowest in forest species, intermediate in species that eat insects and small vertebrates, and highest in species that eat intermediate to large fish. Lead levels were highest in species feeding in industrialized estuaries of Hong Kong.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States). Biological Sciences, and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute
  2. UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (United States)
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
118696
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 14; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; POLLUTION; BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS; AUSTRALASIA; CHINA; MARSHALL ISLANDS; HAWAII; COSTA RICA; LEAD; BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION; MERCURY; CADMIUM; SELENIUM; CHROMIUM; MANGANESE; BIRDS; SENSITIVITY; AGE DEPENDENCE; GENETIC VARIABILITY

Citation Formats

Burger, J, and Gochfeld, M. Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the Pacific Basin using avian feathers. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.1002/etc.5620140716.
Burger, J, & Gochfeld, M. Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the Pacific Basin using avian feathers. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620140716
Burger, J, and Gochfeld, M. 1995. "Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the Pacific Basin using avian feathers". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620140716.
@article{osti_118696,
title = {Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the Pacific Basin using avian feathers},
author = {Burger, J and Gochfeld, M},
abstractNote = {The authors used avian feathers to biomonitor heavy-metal distribution in several areas in the Pacific Basin including Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, China, Johnston Atoll, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. This paper is a preliminary synthesis of data gathered by the Pacific Basin Biomonitoring Project. They examined levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and manganese. For sooty terns (Sterna fuscata) and brown noddy (Anous stolidus) mercury levels were lower in the Pacific than in Puerto Rico in the Atlantic, but his was reversed for lead and cadmium. Adult birds had higher metal levels in their feathers than did young birds of the same species from the same area. Cadmium levels were higher in terrestrial species; lead, chromium, and manganese were highest in coastal species; and mercury and selenium were highest in marine species. Mercury levels were lowest in forest species, intermediate in species that eat insects and small vertebrates, and highest in species that eat intermediate to large fish. Lead levels were highest in species feeding in industrialized estuaries of Hong Kong.},
doi = {10.1002/etc.5620140716},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/118696}, journal = {Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry},
number = 7,
volume = 14,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}