Biomonitoring of toxic metals in feathers of predatory birds from eastern regions of Hungary.

The aim of our study was to investigate the concentrations of toxic metals in the feathers of predatory birds in the Hortobágyi Madárpark (Bird Hospital Foundation). Samples were collected from different predatory birds originated from the eastern and north-eastern region of Hungary. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of toxic metals. The mean values varied between bird species groups, their concentrations were between 0.29 ± 0.24 and 0.40 ± 0.30 mg/kg for arsenic (As), 0.09 ± 0.03 and 0.20 ± 0.18 mg/kg for cadmium (Cd), 1.15 ± 1.40 to 2.30 ± 1.52 mg/kg for lead (Pb) and 0.58 ± 0.31 to 2.19 ± 1.25 mg/kg for mercury (Hg), respectively. The measured values are not over the considered threshold values for these toxic metals and in accordance with similar concentrations of them recorded in similar species within Europe. No significant differences were found in their concentration between genders or age in the species. According to the detected concentrations of these metals, their levels accumulated in the feather of the investigated birds do not indicate the possibility of poisoning.

Monitoring of heavy metal burden in wild birds at eastern/north-eastern part of Hungary.

Concentrations of different heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) were examined in the contour feathers of long-eared owl (Asio otus), little owl (Athene noctua), tawny owl (Strix aluco), barn owl (Tyto alba), Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), rook (Corvus frugilegus), hooded crow (Corvus cornix), carrion crow (Corvus corone), common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). The samples were collected from the Hortobágyi Madárpark (Bird Hospital Foundation) in Hungary. The bird species were classified into six groups based on their nourishment. Feathers were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of the above-mentioned heavy metals in the six different groups and to compare them by the groups, to find a possible connection between the concentrations and the age of birds and to get some information about the heavy metal burden of the environment. The highest As concentration was measured in little owl (0.65 ± 0.56 mg/kg). The highest Cd, Cr and Pb concentration was found in the feathers of barn swallow (0.13 ± 0.06 mg/kg; 1.69 ± 0.44 mg/kg; 5.36 ± 1.46 mg/kg), while the highest Cu and Hg concentration (65.45 ± 17.66 mg/kg; 2.72 ± 1.08 mg/kg) in sparrowhawk feathers and the highest Zn concentration in owls (157.21 ± 57.3 mg/kg). Statistically significant difference has been determined between the juvenile and adult crows in the case of Cd (p = 0.011). The higher concentration was measured in adults (0.14 ± 0.04 mg/kg) than that in juveniles (0.08 ± 0.02 mg/kg). Based on our results, the examined area is not contaminated by these heavy metals on that level, which can cause any adverse effect or poisoning in birds, so this region is safe to wildlife.