Lead poisoning in a bird of prey
Lead poisoning has long been recognized as a serious disease of waterfowl. Birds feeding in areas of heavy waterfowl shooting ingest spent lead shot which is mistaken for seeds or grit. The shot is then ground up in the gizzard which makes the lead more absorbable from the intestinal tract. Although most of the lead is excreted in the feces, some is absorbed into the brain, muscles, and feathers, with the highest deposition in bone tissues. Lead absorption from shot which lodges in the body tissue is minimal. Food habits of non-aquatic birds in the wild precludes their ingesting spent shot. Consequently, lead poisoning from food is not too likely. This report deals with a probable case of fatal lead poisoning in a bird of prey. Source of the exposure is presumed to be from feeding duck heads having detectable levels of lead within their brain and muscle tissues and from shot lodged within the head itself.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho Community Study on Pesticides, Boise
- OSTI ID:
- 5145656
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 11:2; ISSN BECTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
BODY
BONE TISSUES
BRAIN
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DUCKS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOWL
GLANDS
HEART
INFORMATION
KIDNEYS
LEAD
LIVER
METALS
MUSCLES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES