Burger J, Gochfeld M
Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 1992 Jul;23(1):105-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00226002.
The use of feathers is a non-invasive and repeatable method for biomonitoring trace element levels in birds and their ecosystems. Trace element levels were examined in different parts of growing flight feathers from young common terns (Sterna hirundo) to determine distribution of heavy metals and selenium, potential bias from using partially grown feathers, and whether additional heavy metals and selenium are excreted in feather sheaths that are sloughed before feathers are usually sampled. Lead and mercury levels were significantly higher in the distal fully formed portion of the growing feather (with no residual blood supply) compared to the proximal, growing portion of the feather with a residual blood supply, but no significant differences were evident for cadmium and selenium. These results suggest that using partially grown feathers underestimates the amount of lead and mercury in fully formed feathers and that higher levels of lead and mercury are sequestered in feathers than are present in the blood at any one time. Significantly higher concentrations of lead and cadmium, and significantly lower levels of mercury were in the sheath compared to the whole feather blade. These data suggest that birds excrete more lead and cadmium during molt than previously thought.
羽毛的使用是一种用于生物监测鸟类及其生态系统中微量元素水平的非侵入性且可重复的方法。对幼年普通燕鸥（Sterna hirundo）生长中的飞羽不同部位的微量元素水平进行了检测，以确定重金属和硒的分布、使用部分生长羽毛带来的潜在偏差，以及在通常采样羽毛之前脱落的羽鞘中是否会额外排出重金属和硒。与有残余血液供应的近端生长羽毛部分相比，生长羽毛远端完全形成部分（无残余血液供应）的铅和汞水平显著更高，但镉和硒没有明显差异。这些结果表明，使用部分生长的羽毛会低估完全形成羽毛中的铅和汞含量，并且羽毛中封存的铅和汞水平高于任何时候血液中的含量。与整个羽片相比，羽鞘中的铅和镉浓度显著更高，汞水平显著更低。这些数据表明，鸟类在换羽期间排出的铅和镉比之前认为的更多。
