Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael McTee, Becky Kean, Ali Pons, Philip Ramsey, Adam Shreading, Katharine Stone, Brooke Tanner, Beth Watne, Robert Domenech
Summary: Blood lead concentrations in bald eagles are measured to monitor exposure, with a high prevalence of lead poisoning in both free-flying and rehabilitated eagles in Montana, USA. Efforts to mitigate lead poisoning can be evaluated by continuing to monitor blood lead concentrations and switching to lead-free bullets.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Damien Nzabanita, Jordan O. Hampton, Simon D. Toop, Andrew J. Bengsen, Aaron J. Specht, Jason S. Flesch, Jasmin Hufschmid, Dayanthi Nugegoda
Summary: There is a growing recognition worldwide about the threat of toxic lead to wildlife and humans. This study aimed to estimate contemporary lead exposure in Australian waterfowl by measuring bone lead concentrations in Pacific black ducks. The use of portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed that lead exposure levels in these ducks have significantly decreased compared to historical studies from the 1990s, indicating the effectiveness of the lead shot ban in reducing lead exposure in waterfowl.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jordan O. Hampton, Mia L. Cobb, Simon D. Toop, Jason S. Flesch, Timothy H. Hyndman
Summary: There is a growing recognition of the threat posed by toxic lead-based ammunition, particularly in hunting dogs. A study conducted in Victoria, Australia, found that blood lead levels in hunting dogs increased significantly during the hunting season, indicating a risk of lead exposure in this context.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Robert Domenech, Adam Shreading, Philip Ramsey, Michael McTee
Summary: Lead poisoning poses a threat to many species of raptors, including golden eagles, with much of the lead likely originating from bullet fragments in carcasses left by hunters. Elevated blood lead levels were found in nearly all golden eagles captured in western Montana during winter, with potential risks including neurological and physiological disorders. Migration patterns did not significantly affect lead exposure levels in these birds. Promoting nonlead hunting ammunition could help reduce lead exposure in areas with high concentrations of golden eagles.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Toxicology
Rajitha Gadde, Swati Betharia
Summary: This study demonstrated that NBMI effectively attenuated cell death and reduction of GSH levels induced by lead acetate in U-87 MG cells, with a superior neuroprotective effect compared to DMSA. NBMI also reduced Pb-induced neuroinflammation and enhanced cellular ability to efflux heavy metals.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Addy-Orduna, Rafael Mateo
Summary: Treated seeds and their cotyledons pose toxicological risks to seed-eating birds. The study found that the density of untreated seeds and the damage to seedlings were higher than those treated with imidacloprid. Additionally, the abundance and richness of birds decreased after sowing, suggesting a deterrent effect of imidacloprid-treated seeds on birds.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew J. Harford, Stuart L. Simpson, Christopher L. Humphrey, David L. Parry, Anu Kumar, Lisa Chandler, Jennifer L. Stauber, Rick A. van Dam
Summary: The derivation of sediment quality guideline values (SQGVs) is a challenging task, with the main challenge being the use of contaminated sediments that accurately represent real-world scenarios for toxicity testing. By utilizing a novel metal spiking method, a successful experiment was conducted to derive a uranium SQGV, with the spiked sediments proving to be representative of mining-contaminated sediments.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ciro Cococcetta, Thomas Coutant, Tommaso Collarile, Alessandro Vetere, Francesco Di Ianni, Minh Huynh
Summary: Obtaining data through the study of wild animals is increasingly important for assessing the overall health of the natural environment. This retrospective study provides an overview of the causes of admission to a wildlife rehabilitation center in central Italy from 2005 to 2016, focusing on wild raptors. The main causes of admission were trauma, nestling, and starvation. The study highlights the dangers faced by wild birds of prey in the region and provides valuable information for rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marta Herrero-Villar, Patricia Mateo-Tomas, Ines S. Sanchez-Barbudo, Pablo R. Camarero, Mark A. Taggart, Rafael Mateo
Summary: Veterinary pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, are emerging contaminants of concern worldwide. Avian scavengers, such as griffon vultures, are exposed to antibiotics through consumption of livestock carcasses. This study found that griffon vultures feeding on livestock carcasses from intensive farming were more exposed to antibiotics than those relying on carcasses from extensive farming or wild animals. Additionally, the study detected quinolones in domestic livestock supplied at feeding stations, highlighting the importance of assessing and managing the risks posed by veterinary pharmaceuticals in carcass disposal for avian scavengers.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ryouta Torimoto, Chihiro Ishii, Hiroshi Sato, Keisuke Saito, Yukiko Watanabe, Kohei Ogasawara, Ayano Kubota, Takehisa Matsukawa, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Atsushi Kobayashi, Takashi Kimura, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Mayumi Ishizuka
Summary: Lead localization in organs of experimentally lead-exposed ducks and kites was investigated using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Lead accumulation was diffuse in the liver, renal cortex, and brain in both species, with differences observed in lead distribution patterns between the two avian species; copper distribution in the brain was also altered in lead-exposed ducks.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noelie Molbert, Simon Agostini, Fabrice Alliot, Frederic Angelier, Clotilde Biard, Beatriz Decenciere, Mathieu Leroux-Coyau, Alexis Millot, Cecile Ribout, Aurelie Goutte
Summary: The study found that parasite infection can affect the oxidative stress status of fish in response to pollutant exposure, potentially increasing oxidative damage at low concentrations and reducing it at higher concentrations. Antioxidant capacity did not differ significantly in response to parasite infection or PAHs exposure. Additionally, increased PAH levels did not compromise telomere length, body condition, or survival in infected and uninfected fish. This study provides experimental evidence that the outcome of host-parasite interactions can shift from negative to positive as pollutant exposure increases.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rafael Shinji Akiyama Kitamura, Maiara Vicentini, Maiara Carolina Perussolo, Juliana Roratto Lirola, Camilla Freitas Cirilo dos Santos, Julio Cesar Moreira Brito, Marta Margarete Cestari, Maritana Mela Prodocimo, Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes, Helena Cristina Silva de Assis
Summary: This study investigated the sublethal effects of short-term exposure to different concentrations of Ciprofloxacin on Neotropical catfish. The results showed that Ciprofloxacin caused genotoxicity and adverse effects on hematological and histopathological parameters in the fish. These findings highlight the need for attention and monitoring of Ciprofloxacin concentrations in aquatic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nian Liu, Yongshun Huang, Huazhou Zhang, Ting Wang, Chen Tao, Aiqian Zhang, Baowei Chen, Yongguang Yin, Maoyong Song, Guangbo Qu, Yong Liang, Jianbo Shi, Bin He, Ligang Hu, Guibin Jiang
Summary: Understanding the presence and dynamics of chemical pollutants in individual cells is crucial for their transportation, fate, and toxicity in humans. This study revealed a unified pattern in probability distribution and dynamics of lead content in individual mature erythrocytes of lead-intoxicated patients and healthy subjects, despite their highly heterogeneous nature. This research provides insight into the molecular mechanism of lead trafficking and fate in humans, and may lead to the development of strategies to enhance lead excretion during treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Md Mostafizur Rahman, Ahmed M. El-Shehawi, Md Firoz Alam, Ahmad Humayan Kabir
Summary: This study investigated the differential tolerance to lead in wheat genotypes and found that lead accumulation is primarily limited by iron uptake and chelation in roots. These findings have important implications for developing lead-tolerant wheat through breeding or transgenic strategies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nili Anglister, Shira Gonen-Shalom, Peleg Shlanger, Edna Blotnick-Rubin, Ariela Rosenzweig, Igal Horowitz, Ohad Hatzofe, Roni King, Lili Anglister, Orr Spiegel
Summary: Exposure to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides poses a common threat to wildlife, especially scavengers like vultures. The Griffon vulture population is declining in the Eastern Mediterranean, with poisoning being a significant cause. Diagnosis and treatment of poisoning events are challenging due to the lack of specific clinical indications and low levels of detectable pesticides. Cholinesterase activity in vultures' plasma can be an effective biomarker for monitoring exposure, but inter-species variations limit its applicability.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)