Heavy metals and selenium variation in a migratory bird wintering in a mercury-polluted lagoon

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01607753· OSTI ID:5384953

Leonzio, C; Fossi, C; Focardi, S

Recent papers have demonstrated that water birds collected in the Mediterranean area accumulate remarkable amounts of mercury, usually greater than in the same species obtained from other areas. The critical exposure to the pollutant could negatively influence the survival of some species of birds, particularly those high in the food chain. Nevertheless animals belonging to various phyla have the ability to adapt themselves to environmental-pollutant damage. Of the various defense mechanisms employed by birds and mammals, the retention of selenium as an antagonist to mercury toxicity is the best known. In the present paper the authors report the results of a long term monitoring of mercury, cadmium, lead and selenium and their interactions in tissues of the Black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) wintering in the lagoon of Marano (NE Italy), an environment moderately polluted by mercury.

• Research Organization: Universita di Siena, Italy
• OSTI ID: 5384953
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 37:2; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
CADMIUM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
FOWL
ITALY
LEAD
MERCURY
METALS
MIGRATION
PHYSIOLOGY
PONDS
RETENTION
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WESTERN EUROPE