Metal concentrations in feathers of birds from Papua New Guinea forests: Evidence of pollution

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620120719· OSTI ID:5815922

Burger, J; Laska, M ^[1]; Gochfeld, M ^[2]

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1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States). Dept. of Biological Sciences Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Inst., Piscataway, NJ (United States)
2. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Inst., Piscataway, NJ (United States) UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (United States). Environmental and Community Medicine

The authors used the feathers of seven species of birds from New Guinea highland forests to examine concentrations of heavy metals and selenium. The authors tested the null hypotheses that there were no species, food type, or elevation differences in the concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and manganese in the feathers of adults. All species had nondetectable levels of mercury. There were significant species differences in cadmium, lead, chromium, selenium, and manganese. Common smokey honeyeaters (Melipotes fumigatus, a fruit and flower feeder) had the lowest levels of all metals; blue-grey robin (Peneothello cyanus, mainly insectivorous) had the highest cadmium and manganese; and several species of birds of paradise had the highest lead levels. Lead levels were relatively high compared to those reported from feathers of other birds, attributable to the use of leaded gasoline.

• OSTI ID: 5815922
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 12:7; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIRDS
SENSITIVITY
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CHROMIUM
LEAD
MANGANESE
NEW GUINEA
POLLUTION
SELENIUM
AIR POLLUTION
FEATHERS
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
ASIA
AUSTRALASIA
ELEMENTS
ISLANDS
METALS
SEMIMETALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology