Tissue distribution and correlations of heavy metals in wild birds from Southern Turkey: an ecologically important region on the west Palearctic migration route

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate concentrations of environmentally relevant heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Zn) in feathers, muscle, heart, kidney, and liver tissues of wild birds (golden eagle [Aquila chrysaetos], sparrowhawk [Accipiter nisus], and white stork [Ciconia ciconia]) from Hatay province, southern Turkey. Fe had the highest mean concentration, while Hg had the lowest mean concentration in all bird species and tissues. Compared to the literature Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations were lower; Cd, Fe, and Mn concentrations were higher. The highest mean concentrations (mg kg− 1) or accumulation levels in essential metals were 16.45 for Cu in feathers, 350.50 for Fe in kidney, 11.43 for Mn in kidney, 17.87 for Zn in muscle. The concentrations of non-essential metals were 1.66 for As in feathers, 1.13 for Cd in kidneys, 0.10 for Hg in muscle, and 2.50 for Pb in feather. The correlations between essential and non-essential metals were positively significant except for: As and Se; Cd and Cr, Mn, Se, Zn; Hg and Cr, Mn, Se; Ni and Se, Zn; Pb and Se. Monitoring contaminants in bioindicator wild animals (terrestrial and aquatic species) is an important technique for assessing and maintaining environmental health.