Trace Metal Bioaccumulation in Feral Pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) and Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) Residing in the Urban Environment of Iasi City, Romania
Author:
Iacob Diana1ORCID, Paduraru Emanuela1ORCID, Gabor Vicentiu-Robert2ORCID, Gache Carmen3ORCID, Breaban Iuliana Gabriela12ORCID, Gurlui Silviu4ORCID, Plavan Gabriel3ORCID, Jijie Roxana5ORCID, Nicoara Mircea13ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Doctoral School of Geosciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, No. 20A Carol I Avenue, 700505 Iasi, Romania 2. Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, No. 20A Carol I Avenue, 700505 Iasi, Romania 3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, No. 20A Carol I Avenue, 700505 Iasi, Romania 4. Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, No. 11 Carol I Avenue, 700506 Iasi, Romania 5. Research Center on Advanced Materials and Technologies (RAMTECH), Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, No. 11 Carol I Avenue, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Abstract
Nowadays, trace metal contamination within urban atmospheres is a significant and concerning global issue. In the present study, two synanthropic bird species, namely, the feral pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) and the rook (Corvus frugilegus), were employed as bioindicators to assess the atmospheric trace metal pollution in Iasi City, Romania. The concentrations of Ni, Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, and Cu were determined through high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF-AAS) of various tissues, including the liver, kidney, lung, heart, muscle, and bone, of feral pigeons and rooks collected in Iasi City. The order of trace metal concentrations in the tissues of feral pigeons and rooks in Iasi City was similar: Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cr > Co. However, trace element values in most tissues were higher in the rook samples than in feral pigeon ones, except for Co, which had elevated levels in feral pigeon renal and cardiac tissues, and Cu, which registered the highest concentrations in feral pigeon liver and kidney tissues. While not statistically significant, Pb concentration values in the PM10 fraction of atmospheric particles positively correlated with Pb concentrations in rook kidney samples (p = 0.05). The concentration levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni in the PM10 fraction of air particles showed a positive correlation with Cd levels in the samples of pigeon heart and rook liver, kidney, and heart, Pb levels in the samples of pigeon kidney, heart, and muscle and rook liver and bone, and Ni levels in the samples of pigeon liver, kidney, and bone and rook liver, muscle, and bone, respectively.
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