Tissue levels of lead in experimentally exposed herring gull (Larus argentatus) chicks

Abstract

Two‐day‐old herring gull (Larus argentatus) chicks were injected with either 0.1 or 0.2 mg lead/g body mass and were sacrificed at 45 d of age. Control birds were injected with sterile water. We examined lead and cadmium levels in blood, kidney, liver, muscle, salt glands, breast feathers, and bone. In control birds lead levels were highest in bone, feathers, salt gland, and kidney, and lowest in blood, muscle, and brain. In experimental birds lead levels were highest in bone, liver, kidney, and feathers, and lowest in blood, muscle, and salt gland. In control birds cadmium levels were highest in the kidney, followed by liver, with blood and brain being the lowest. Lead‐exposed birds had increased cadmium deposition in brain. For experimental birds lead levels were correlated for all tissues except the salt gland. Correlations were particularly high for feathers with brain, kidney, liver and bone, suggesting feathers can be used in biomonitoring of natural avian populations. For cadmium there were no significant correlations among tissue levels except for brain and liver. Bioamplification of lead was greatest for liver and blood, and lowest for muscle and salt gland when comparing a lead dose of 0.1 mg/g with controls.