Tissue levels of lead in experimentally exposed zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with particular attention on the use of feathers as biomonitors.

We tested experimentally whether zebra finch feathers can be used as a biomonitor for lead pollution, and we examined whether lead exposure influences the accumulation of zinc into feathers. Two groups of eight adult male zebra finches were dosed with, respectively, 0 and 25 ppm lead as lead acetate in their drinking water. After 30 days, lead-treated zebra finches accumulated significantly higher lead concentrations in brain, fat, kidney, liver, muscle, testes, and regrown outer tail feathers than control individuals. Lead levels in regrown outer tail feathers were significantly higher than in original outer tail feathers in the exposed group. The concentration of lead in original (not regrown) fifth tail feathers at the end of the experiment was significantly higher than lead levels in the original outer tail feathers. Our results indicate that lead in regrown feathers originates both from internal deposition and external contamination through the excretion of the uropygial gland during preening. Lead levels in regrown feathers were significantly correlated with levels in liver, kidney, and muscle, suggesting that feathers can be used as a biomonitor for lead. We found that lead had an influence on the metabolism of zinc. Zinc concentrations in the regrown feathers were significantly lower in the lead-treated group although zinc levels in the liver did not differ significantly. Moreover, lead and zinc concentrations in the feathers were significantly negatively correlated.