The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) as an environmental bioindicator species of heavy metal contamination

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2014 Oct;93(4):410-6. doi: 10.1007/s00128-014-1362-y. Epub 2014 Aug 23.

Abstract

This study aims to examine the possible presence of lead and cadmium in the liver and kidneys of hooded crows (Corvus cornix). Liver and kidneys of hooded crow carcasses were collected in Province of Cuneo (Piedmont, Italy) in order to detect lead and cadmium content. Significant differences were found in lead and cadmium levels between areas of intensive cultivation versus areas where meadows are prevalent. Moreover, age greatly influenced the burden of heavy metals, while sex did not seem to affect the level of contamination. The source of contamination may be phosphate fertilizers used for intensive cultivation in the study area.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Cadmium / analysis
  • Cadmium / pharmacokinetics*
  • Crows / metabolism*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Environmental Monitoring / statistics & numerical data
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis
  • Environmental Pollutants / pharmacokinetics*
  • Female
  • Fertilizers / analysis
  • Italy
  • Lead / analysis
  • Lead / pharmacokinetics*
  • Male
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Fertilizers
  • Cadmium
  • Lead