Lead exposure in common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna): Tracking the success of the Pb shot ban for hunting in Spanish wetlands

Irene Valverde; Silvia Espín; Isabel Navas; Pedro María-Mojica; José M Gil; Antonio J García-Fernández

doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.05.002

Lead exposure in common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna): Tracking the success of the Pb shot ban for hunting in Spanish wetlands

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2019 Aug:106:147-151. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.05.002. Epub 2019 May 4.

Authors

Irene Valverde¹, Silvia Espín², Isabel Navas², Pedro María-Mojica³, José M Gil⁴, Antonio J García-Fernández⁵

Affiliations

¹ Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
² Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
³ Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Santa-Faz Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Conselleria de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climático y Desarrollo Rural, Alicante, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain.
⁴ La-Granja Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Conselleria de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climático y Desarrollo Rural, Valencia, Generalitat, Valenciana, Spain.
⁵ Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: ajgf@um.es.

PMID: 31063795
DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.05.002

Abstract

Levels of lead (Pb) were analyzed in tissues of 25 Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) from La Albufera Natural Park (NP) in Valencia (Eastern Spain), which were found dead due to a botulism outbreak. The objective was to assess Pb exposure in waterfowl, fourteen years after the implementation of the Real Decreto 581/2001, which banned the use of Pb ammunition for hunting activities in internationally relevant wetlands. For this purpose, this study measured the actual ingestion of lead pellets in Common shelduck from La Albufera de Valencia and provide data on Pb residue concentrations in different tissues of this species breeding in this NP. The Pb distribution pattern in tissues was bone > kidney > liver > brain > muscle, with Pb concentrations of 778.96 ± 998.64, 122.40 ± 89.18, 92.08 ± 57.65, 18.90 ± 16.30 and 15.13 ± 11.85 ng/g (wet weight), respectively. This work presents, as far as we are aware, the first published data on Pb concentrations in Common shelduck. The Pb levels detected were lower than those reported in other studies on Anatid species from Spanish wetlands, which may be explained by this ban. Moreover, lead concentrations found were below those levels for which any observable effect has been described for acute or chronic lead exposure.

Keywords: Common shelduck; La Albufera Natural Park; Lead; Pellet; Plumbism; Tadorna tadorna.

MeSH terms

Administration, Oral
Animals
Ducks*
Environmental Monitoring*
Female
Lead / administration & dosage
Lead / analysis*
Lead / toxicity
Male
Spain
Wetlands*

Substances

Lead