Sublethal effects on chronic lead ingestion in Mallard ducks

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287397609529395· OSTI ID:7352914

Finley, M T ^[1]; Dieter, M P; Locke, L N

---

1. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD

Mallard drakes (Anas platyrhynchos) fed 1, 5, or 15 ppM lead nitrate were bled and sacrificed at 3-wk intervals. No mortality occurred, and the pathologic lesions usually associated with lead poisoning were not found. Changes in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration did not occur. After 3 wk ducks fed 25 ppM lead exhibited a 40 percent inhibition of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity that persisted through 12 wk exposure. After 12 wk treatment similar enzyme inhibition was present in the ducks fed 5 ppM) lead. At 3 wk there was a small accumulation of lead (less than 1 ppM) in the liver and kidneys of ducks fed 25 ppM lead; no further increases occurred throughout the exposure. No significant accumulation of lead occurred in the tibiae or wing bones. Groups of ducks fed 5 and 25 ppM diets for 12 wk were placed on clean feed and examined through a 12 wk posttreatment period. After 3 wk on clean diet delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and lead concentrations in the blood had returned to pretreatment levels. Even though lead concentrations in the blood, soft organs, and bone were low, a highly significant negative correlation between blood lead and blood enzyme activity was obtained. This enzyme bioassay should provide a sensitive and precise estimate for monitoring lead in the blood for waterfowl.

• OSTI ID: 7352914
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 1:6; ISSN JTEHD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIRDS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BONE TISSUES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DUCKS
ENZYMES
FOWL
GLOBIN
HEMOGLOBIN
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INGESTION
INJURIES
INTAKE
LEAD COMPOUNDS
LEAD NITRATES
METABOLISM
MONITORING
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGY
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES