Lead and Mercury in Fall Migrant Golden Eagles from Western North America

Heiko W. Langner; Robert Domenech; Vincent A. Slabe; Sean P. Sullivan

doi:10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6

Lead and Mercury in Fall Migrant Golden Eagles from Western North America

Heiko W. Langner, Robert Domenech, Vincent A. Slabe, Sean P. Sullivan

Analytical Chemistry Core Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Lead exposure from ingestion of bullet fragments is a serious environmental hazard to eagles. We determined blood lead levels (BLL) in 178 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured during fall migration along a major North American flyway. These eagles spent the breeding season distributed over a large range and are the best currently available representation of free flying golden eagles on the continent. We found 58 % of these eagles containing increased BLL > 0.1 mg/L; 10 % were clinically lead poisoned with BLL > 0.6 mg/L; and 4 % were lethally exposed with BLL > 1.2 mg/L. No statistical difference in BLL existed between golden and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Golden eagles captured on carrion had higher BLL than those captured using live bait suggesting differences in feeding habits among individuals. Median BLL increased with age class. We propose a conceptual model for the long-term increase in BLL after ingestion of lead particles. The mean blood mercury level in golden eagles was 0.023 mg/L. We evaluate a field test for BLL that is based on anodic stripping voltammetry. This cost-effective and immediate method correlated well with results from inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, although results needed to be corrected for each calibration of the test kit.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	54-61
Number of pages	8
Journal	Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Volume	69
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6
State	Published - 2015

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-07-06
Acknowledgements: We thank the many people who helped in the field, notably A. Shreading, B. Bedrosian, T. Pitz, R. Crandall, S. Wilson, S. Norton, and T. Veto. Kate Davis kindly allowed us to collect blood samples from captive eagles at Raptors of the Rockies. Logistical support was provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, United States Forest Service and Helena National Forest (P. Shanley). This work was funded by the Montana Bureau of Land Management, LCAO Foundation, M. J. Murdock Foundation, Maki Foundation, Mountaineers Foundation, Patagonia Foundation, Cinnabar Foundation, and private individuals. K. McKalip provided helpful comments on this manuscript. This work would not have been possible without support from the University of Montana Geosciences Department–Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory where all laboratory analyses were performed. Special thanks go to M. Young for help in the laboratory. We thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism and suggestions.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pollution
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Toxicology

Access to Document

10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6

https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/669940/1/Proof.pdf

Cite this

@article{6ce0a89764f54db8b082e48381743247,

title = "Lead and Mercury in Fall Migrant Golden Eagles from Western North America",

abstract = "Lead exposure from ingestion of bullet fragments is a serious environmental hazard to eagles. We determined blood lead levels (BLL) in 178 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured during fall migration along a major North American flyway. These eagles spent the breeding season distributed over a large range and are the best currently available representation of free flying golden eagles on the continent. We found 58 % of these eagles containing increased BLL > 0.1 mg/L; 10 % were clinically lead poisoned with BLL > 0.6 mg/L; and 4 % were lethally exposed with BLL > 1.2 mg/L. No statistical difference in BLL existed between golden and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Golden eagles captured on carrion had higher BLL than those captured using live bait suggesting differences in feeding habits among individuals. Median BLL increased with age class. We propose a conceptual model for the long-term increase in BLL after ingestion of lead particles. The mean blood mercury level in golden eagles was 0.023 mg/L. We evaluate a field test for BLL that is based on anodic stripping voltammetry. This cost-effective and immediate method correlated well with results from inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, although results needed to be corrected for each calibration of the test kit.",

author = "Langner, {Heiko W.} and Robert Domenech and Slabe, {Vincent A.} and Sullivan, {Sean P.}",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-07-06 Acknowledgements: We thank the many people who helped in the field, notably A. Shreading, B. Bedrosian, T. Pitz, R. Crandall, S. Wilson, S. Norton, and T. Veto. Kate Davis kindly allowed us to collect blood samples from captive eagles at Raptors of the Rockies. Logistical support was provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, United States Forest Service and Helena National Forest (P. Shanley). This work was funded by the Montana Bureau of Land Management, LCAO Foundation, M. J. Murdock Foundation, Maki Foundation, Mountaineers Foundation, Patagonia Foundation, Cinnabar Foundation, and private individuals. K. McKalip provided helpful comments on this manuscript. This work would not have been possible without support from the University of Montana Geosciences Department–Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory where all laboratory analyses were performed. Special thanks go to M. Young for help in the laboratory. We thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism and suggestions.",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "69",

pages = "54--61",

journal = "Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology",

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T1 - Lead and Mercury in Fall Migrant Golden Eagles from Western North America

AU - Langner, Heiko W.

AU - Domenech, Robert

AU - Slabe, Vincent A.

AU - Sullivan, Sean P.

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-07-06 Acknowledgements: We thank the many people who helped in the field, notably A. Shreading, B. Bedrosian, T. Pitz, R. Crandall, S. Wilson, S. Norton, and T. Veto. Kate Davis kindly allowed us to collect blood samples from captive eagles at Raptors of the Rockies. Logistical support was provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, United States Forest Service and Helena National Forest (P. Shanley). This work was funded by the Montana Bureau of Land Management, LCAO Foundation, M. J. Murdock Foundation, Maki Foundation, Mountaineers Foundation, Patagonia Foundation, Cinnabar Foundation, and private individuals. K. McKalip provided helpful comments on this manuscript. This work would not have been possible without support from the University of Montana Geosciences Department–Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory where all laboratory analyses were performed. Special thanks go to M. Young for help in the laboratory. We thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism and suggestions.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Lead exposure from ingestion of bullet fragments is a serious environmental hazard to eagles. We determined blood lead levels (BLL) in 178 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured during fall migration along a major North American flyway. These eagles spent the breeding season distributed over a large range and are the best currently available representation of free flying golden eagles on the continent. We found 58 % of these eagles containing increased BLL > 0.1 mg/L; 10 % were clinically lead poisoned with BLL > 0.6 mg/L; and 4 % were lethally exposed with BLL > 1.2 mg/L. No statistical difference in BLL existed between golden and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Golden eagles captured on carrion had higher BLL than those captured using live bait suggesting differences in feeding habits among individuals. Median BLL increased with age class. We propose a conceptual model for the long-term increase in BLL after ingestion of lead particles. The mean blood mercury level in golden eagles was 0.023 mg/L. We evaluate a field test for BLL that is based on anodic stripping voltammetry. This cost-effective and immediate method correlated well with results from inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, although results needed to be corrected for each calibration of the test kit.

AB - Lead exposure from ingestion of bullet fragments is a serious environmental hazard to eagles. We determined blood lead levels (BLL) in 178 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured during fall migration along a major North American flyway. These eagles spent the breeding season distributed over a large range and are the best currently available representation of free flying golden eagles on the continent. We found 58 % of these eagles containing increased BLL > 0.1 mg/L; 10 % were clinically lead poisoned with BLL > 0.6 mg/L; and 4 % were lethally exposed with BLL > 1.2 mg/L. No statistical difference in BLL existed between golden and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Golden eagles captured on carrion had higher BLL than those captured using live bait suggesting differences in feeding habits among individuals. Median BLL increased with age class. We propose a conceptual model for the long-term increase in BLL after ingestion of lead particles. The mean blood mercury level in golden eagles was 0.023 mg/L. We evaluate a field test for BLL that is based on anodic stripping voltammetry. This cost-effective and immediate method correlated well with results from inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, although results needed to be corrected for each calibration of the test kit.

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UR - http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84923011785&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6

DO - 10.1007/s00244-015-0139-6

M3 - Article

C2 - 25686747

SN - 1432-0703

VL - 69

SP - 54

EP - 61

JO - Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

JF - Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

IS - 1

ER -

Lead and Mercury in Fall Migrant Golden Eagles from Western North America

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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