Trace metal concentrations are higher in cartilage than in bones of scaup and pochard wintering in Poland.

Bones and cartilage of two species of diving ducks: the scaup Aythya marila (n=24) and the pochard A. ferina (n=24) were studied. Scaup is protected in Poland where it spends only the winter, while pochard is a game bird, abundant and breeding in Poland. In winter, the two species form large flocks off the southern coast of the Baltic, particularly in the Szczecin Lagoon where they were collected for this study. The bones and cartilage (trachea) were assayed for concentrations (dry weight-based) of three essential metals: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn); concentrations of the two toxic metals: lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were assayed as well. These hard tissues of the two species showed the following order of metal concentrations Zn>Fe>Pb>Cu>Cd. In scaup and pochard bones, the respective geometric mean concentrations of Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, and Cd were 94.4 and 102.0; 20.2 and 24.7; 6.2 and 9.6; 0.19 and 0.26; 0.114 and 0.162 mg/kg. The levels of all the metals in cartilage (Zn 149.1 and 165.8; Fe 58.4 and 116.3; Pb 10.6 and 14.9; Cu 1.41 and 3.31; Cd 0.144 and 0.175 mg/kg, respectively) were higher than in the bones of A. marila and A. ferina. However, statistically significant differences were found in respect to the essential metals only (Zn, Fe, Cu). The inter-species comparisons showed the two species to differ in their cartilage concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Cd and in their bone concentrations of Pb and Cd. In each case, the pochard exhibited higher concentrations of metals. This study showed distinct differences between trace element accumulation by two heavily mineralised avian body parts: leg bones (tarsometatarsus) and cartilage (trachea). The results are in agreement with data reported by other workers who analysed trace metals in cartilaginous and bone components of the femoral head in homoiotherm vertebrates, including humans. Therefore it is important that intra- and inter-species comparisons of hard biological components be based on corresponding body parts, and that relevant biochemical and ecotoxicological research be pursued.

[Fluorine and calcium concentrations in bones of the wood pigeon from the environs of Szczecin: a 2002-2004 study]. / Steenia fluoru i wapnia w kosciach grzywacza z okolic szczecina w latach 2002-2004.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was done in 176 wood pigeons (Columba palumbus). In 2002, assays were performed on 24 immature (imm) and 66 adult (ad) individuals. In 2003, 15 immature birds could be assayed, while the 2004 sample consisted of a total of 71 individuals (12 imm and 59 ad). Pigeons were caught near the villages of Skarbimierzyce and Doluje situated west of Szczecin. Fluorine and calcium content in ash and dry mass of the wood pigeon's tarsometatarsus bones was determined. Fluorine content in ash and dry mass increased with age of the bird. It was only in 2002 samples that significant differences between immature and adult pigeons in calcium ash content were detected. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) failed to reveal significant differences between 2002 and 2004 samples in calcium content of adult bone ash. The remaining parameters in this group of birds differed significantly. The immature group showed no significant differences between 2002 and 2004 samples in fluorine content of bone ash and dry mass. Significant differences (p < 0.01) in fluorine content were revealed between 2002 and 2003 as well as between 2003 and 2004 samples. Ash calcium content showed no differences for immature birds of 2002 and 2003; however, significant differences (p < 0.001) were revealed between 2002 and 2004 as well as between 2003 and 2004. No significant differences were revealed between the immature bone dry mass calcium contents in 2002 and 2003 as well as in 2002 and 2004; on the other hand, the difference between the 2003 and 2004 data proved significant (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The present study demonstrated a number of differences in fluorine and calcium content in bones of the plant-eating wood pigeon. In addition, fluorine was found to undergo an intense age-related accumulation in bones. Fluorine content showed marked year-to-year variability. CONCLUSIONS: It is highly probable that fluorine content in wood pigeon bone reflects environmental fluorine contamination from industrial plants in Szczecin and its environs which are the major source of fluorine emissions.

Using the Mallard to biomonitor heavy metal contamination of wetlands in north-western Poland.

Contents of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and cadmium were determined in the brain, pectoral muscle, kidney, liver and bones of the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), a cosmopolitan, herbivorous duck species. Both immature (im; in the first year of life) and older (adult, ad) ducks were studied. The birds originated from wetlands in two areas in north-western Poland, one located in the Slonsk waterfowl reserve (n = 32 im + 24 ad) and the other near the city of Szczecin (n = 21 im + 21 ad). There were numerous significant age-dependent differences in the metal contents of the organs of the Mallards obtained from near Szczecin (Sz) and/or Slonsk (S). Copper contents in the brain (Sz and S), muscles (Sz) and kidneys (Sz) as well as cadmium contents in the liver (Sz, S), kidneys (Sz, S) and muscles (S) were observed to increase with age. Between-area differences in metal contents of individual organs were recorded as well. The S Mallard showed higher contents of iron and copper (in muscles, liver and kidneys), zinc (in liver and kidneys) and cadmium (in muscles, liver and kidneys), while the Sz ducks revealed higher contents of manganese and lead (in brain and bones). The differences observed may be related to the habitat specificity: the Sl?onsk reserve is periodically flooded by the River Odra (Oder) waters that carry pollutants from a copper mining area 250 km away. On the other hand, the mid-field ponds near Szczecin are affected by pollutants, including those that are manganese-rich, generated by agriculture and traffic.

[Fluorine and calcium in bones of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)]. / Fluor i wapn w kosciach grzywacza (Columba palumbus).

A total of 90 woodpigeons shot in August and September 2002 in an area west of Szczecin were obtained from hunters. Based on their age and sex, the birds were divided into the following 4 groups: young males, young females, adult males, and adult females. Content of dry matter, ash, calcium, and fluorine were determined in the tarsometatarsus of each bird. No inter-group differences in per cent dry weight and ash contents were found. There was no correlation between fluorine and calcium contents with either dry weight or ash of the bones. However, significant differences in fluorine and calcium contents of bone ash were revealed between young and adult birds, regardless of sex, the two elements being more abundant in adult birds. Moreover, adult females differed from adult males, demonstrating higher fluorine content per bone dry weight. Adult birds regardless of sex showed higher fluorine content than young birds. A significant fluorine vs. calcium correlation was found in adult birds only. Correlation between per cent calcium and ash contents in bone dry weight was highly significant (r = 0.95; p < 0.0001). The present study corroborates observations of other authors regarding age-related increase in the fluorine content in birds and a general lack of a clearcut relationship between the bone fluorine content and sex outside of breeding season. As shown by this study and the available literature, bones of herbivorous birds, including pigeons and geese are more representative for assessment of environmental fluorine pollution than bones of birds feeding on a mixed diet, carnivores, and scavengers. In view of the large variability in birds, comparisons should be made by studying analogous bones.