Metal accumulation and metallothionein concentrations in tree swallow nestlings near acidified lakes

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620120708· OSTI ID:5702680

Louis, V; Breebaart, L ^[1]; Barlow, J C ^[2]; Klaverkamp, J F ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Zoology
2. Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Zoology Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Ornithology
3. Freshwater Inst., Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada). Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans

The authors studied metal accumulation in hepatic and renal tissues of tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings at acidified and nonacid reference lakes in northwestern Ontario. Hepatic concentrations of metallothionein (metal-binding proteins, MT) in tree swallow nestlings were negatively correlated with pH of the nest-site lake. Combined concentrations of Cu and Zn in the liver were correlated with liver MT concentrations, but Cd was not. Although no overt signs of metal toxicity were observed in nestlings near acid lakes, the results clearly provided evidence that metals are transferred from acid lakes to birds and that these metals are correlated with increases in hepatic MT production.

• OSTI ID: 5702680
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 12:7; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACIDIFICATION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
BIRDS
CANADA
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
LAKES
METALLOPROTEINS
METALLOTHIONEIN
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
SENSITIVITY
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC