The toxicology of lead shot ingestion in ringed turtle doves under conditions of cold exposure.

Ringed turtle doves (Streptopelia risoria) were dosed with 0 (N = 3) or 4 X 110 mg lead shot (N = 7) and were held at temperatures of 6 degrees C (+/- 1) for 7 days beginning 48 hr after lead shot dosing. Doves given 0 (N = 3) or 4 X 110 mg lead shot (N = 7) were maintained at 21 degrees +/- 1 degree C for a 9-day experimental period. Bone, liver and brain lead concentrations were higher in birds that ingested lead shot. Doves that ingested lead shot and were exposed to 6 degrees C temperatures had the highest liver lead concentration (155.94 micrograms/g dw) and 5 of 7 died. There was no mortality among doves maintained at 21 degrees C and among those maintained at 6 degrees C but not given lead shot. Among doves which accumulated high brain lead concentrations (mean = 11.32 micrograms/g) convulsive seizures were observed. Linear relationships were noted between liver lead and lead concentrations in breast muscle (breast muscle lead = 0.942 + 0.036 X), between liver lead and kidney lead (kidney lead = 495.75 + 8.47 X), and between hemoglobin and packed cell volume (packed cell volume = -1.57 + 2.52 X).