scholarly journals Lead Intoxication in Free-Ranging Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah K. Manning ◽  
Arno Wünschmann ◽  
Anibal G. Armién ◽  
Michelle Willette ◽  
Kathleen MacAulay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lead Toxicity ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Lead Intoxication ◽  
Haliaeetus Leucocephalus ◽  
Bald Eagles ◽  
Associated Lesions ◽  
Bone Lead ◽  
Hemorrhagic Necrosis ◽  
Gross Lesions ◽  
Free Ranging

Lead toxicity due to ingestion of spent ammunition is an ongoing cause of mortality in bald eagles. While gross and histologic lesions of lead intoxication have been described in a few individuals of this species, the prevalence of lesions is underreported. A retrospective study of 93 bald eagles with severe lead intoxication was performed to describe the associated lesions and their prevalence and to compare the lesions with blood, liver, kidney, and/or bone lead concentrations. Gross lesions associated with lead toxicity were most frequent within the heart (51/93 birds) and consisted of multifocal myocardial pallor and rounding of the apex. Within the brain, gross lesions included petechiae or hemorrhagic necrosis (13/93 birds). Histologic lesions compatible with lead toxicity occurred within the heart (76/93 birds), brain (59/93 birds), and eyes (24/87 birds). Lead toxicity in bald eagles is characterized by fibrinoid necrosis of small- to medium-caliber arteries, most commonly affecting the heart, brain, and eyes. Gross and histologic lesions are consistent with ischemia caused by a primary vascular injury. A blood lead concentration of greater than 4 ppm and markedly elevated liver lead concentrations were associated with a greater likelihood of lesions in the heart. Severe lead intoxication is frequently associated with lesions that are histologically detectable in bald eagles. The presence of fibrinoid arterial necrosis and parenchymal degeneration, necrosis, and/or hemorrhage within the heart, brain, and/or eyes is suggestive of lead toxicity in bald eagles and warrants evaluation of liver or bone lead concentrations.

scholarly journals Lead Poisoning in Bald Eagles Admitted to Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities in Iowa, 2004–2014

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Yaw ◽  
Kay Neumann ◽  
Linette Bernard ◽  
Jodeane Cancilla ◽  
Terese Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Bald Eagle ◽  
Haliaeetus Leucocephalus ◽  
Bald Eagles ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Independent State ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Rehabilitation Facilities ◽  
Lead Levels

Abstract Eleven years (2004–2014) of bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus data from four independent, state and federally permitted wildlife rehabilitators in Iowa were assessed for the prevalence of elevated lead levels in blood or tissue samples. The relationship between blood lead concentrations and recorded information (age, season, radiographs, and clinical outcome) was investigated. Adult birds had higher blood lead concentrations than immature and juvenile birds. Highest blood lead levels were found during October–January. Bald eagles with positive radiographs for metallic opacities in the digestive tract had higher blood and tissue lead concentrations than those with negative results or those on which no radiograph was performed. Metallic opacities were identified through necropsy. Bald eagles with elevated levels of lead were associated with poor clinical outcomes, indicating that blood lead concentrations could be used as a predictor of clinical outcome.

INFLUENCE OF SNOWFALL ON BLOOD LEAD LEVELS OF FREE-FLYING BALD EAGLES (HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS) IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 816-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. Lindblom ◽  
Letitia M. Reichart ◽  
Brett A. Mandernack ◽  
Matthew Solensky ◽  
Casey W. Schoenebeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mississippi River ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Haliaeetus Leucocephalus ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Upper Mississippi River ◽  
Bald Eagles ◽  
Mississippi River Valley ◽  
Lead Levels

scholarly journals Ecological interactions and habitat modification in nesting Common Murres, Uria aalge

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia K. Parrish ◽  
Robert T. Paine
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Habitat Modification ◽  
Haliaeetus Leucocephalus ◽  
Uria Aalge ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Bald Eagles ◽  
Predator Removal ◽  
Common Murre ◽  
Corvus Caurinus ◽  
Common Murres

SummarySeabird populations suffer from a variety of natural and human-induced sources of mortality and loss of lifetime reproductive output. On the outer coast of Washington State, Common Murre Uria aalge populations have been in decline for approximately the last decade and are currently reproductively active only at Tatoosh Island. These murres nest in two basic habitat types: crevices (25% of the population) and larger cliff-top subcolonies (75%). Murres in cliff-top subcolonies have suffered dramatic reductions in reproductive success in recent years relative to conspecifics nesting in the crevices, primarily due to egg predation by Glaucous-winged Gulls Larus glaucescens and Northwestern Crows Corvus caurinus, facilitated by the presence of Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Because predator removal is not feasible and creation of additional crevice habitat is difficult, expensive and potentially ineffective, we have designed a temporary habitat modification (the “silk forest”) which replaces the natural vegetation cover and modifies the interaction between murres and eagles. Within the test subcolony, murres nesting under and immediately adjacent to the silk forest produced nearly twice as many eggs per square metre as their conspecifics nesting in adjacent exposed-ground areas.

pH-Induced Changes in Blood Lead of Lead-Exposed Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri)

1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter V. Hodson ◽  
Beverly R. Blunt ◽  
Douglas J. Spry
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Lead Toxicity ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Lead Uptake ◽  
Exposure System ◽  
Test Water ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Inorganic Constituents ◽  
Uptake And Release

Blood of juvenile rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) exposed to lead in water showed increasing lead concentrations as pH of the test water decreased from 10.0 to 6.0. A decrease in pH by 1.0 unit from any reference pH resulted in an increase of blood lead by a factor of 2.1. Since sublethal lead toxicity is related to uptake, these results suggest that toxicity increases as pH decreases. Control experiments indicated that reactions of lead with inorganic constituents of the test water were complete within 3 h and that blood lead was at equilibrium with water lead within 48 h. Therefore, at the time of blood sampling in the pH experiment, both lead complexation processes in the exposure system, plus lead uptake and release from the blood, were at equilibrium. Key words: pH, lead, toxicity, fish, Salmo, blood, equilibrium.

scholarly journals Cumulative Lead Dose and Cognitive Function in Adults: A Review of Studies That Measured Both Blood Lead and Bone Lead

2007 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina A. Shih ◽  
Howard Hu ◽  
Marc G. Weisskopf ◽  
Brian S. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Bone Lead

Reproductive success of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and its association with habitat or landscape features and weather in southeast Alaska

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 1595-1604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Gende ◽  
Mary F. Wilson ◽  
Mike Jacobsen
Keyword(s):  
Early Spring ◽  
Average Density ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Haliaeetus Leucocephalus ◽  
Bald Eagles ◽  
Active Nest ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Landscape Features

Long-term data have been collected on nesting bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in three areas of southeast Alaska. The average density of active nests was among the highest recorded, but nest productivity (average number of young fledged per active nest) and success (percentage of active nests that fledged at least one young) were similar to values in other areas. Using logistic regression, nest productivity was associated with several habitat or landscape features (productivity was highest in proximity to spawning herring and at a particular location), each of which could be related to the availability of prey (fish) in the early spring (April, May) during egg laying and incubation. Consistency of nesting success was associated with the presence of tidal flats at one study site. Nest use, but not nesting success, was related to nesting success the previous year. Multiple regression showed that fewer nests per kilometre were successful in years with a high frequency of spring rains.

Letter to the Editor

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-410
Author(s):  
Birt Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Lead Toxicity ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Full Agreement ◽  
Letter To The Editor

Needleman and other distinguished investigators of lead toxicity raise three issues. 1. Whether lead is a neurotoxin. Here there is full agreement. As I stated in my editorial, "Lead is a poison, and the less of it in the bodies of growing children the better."1 Adverse effects in young children possibly may occur at blood lead (BPb) levels <10 µg/dL However, neither the epidemiologic studies cited by Needleman and colleagues nor any references I could find demonstrate that BPb <20 µg/dL at age I year causes a clinically important decrease in intelligence or an increase in neurobehavioral problems by the time a child enters school.

Bald Eagle Lead Exposure in the Upper Midwest

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Warner ◽  
Edward E. Britton ◽  
Drew N. Becker ◽  
Michael J. Coffey
Keyword(s):  
Lead Poisoning ◽  
Lead Exposure ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Bald Eagle ◽  
Haliaeetus Leucocephalus ◽  
Upper Midwest ◽  
Bald Eagles ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Liver Lead Concentration

Abstract In 2012, we examined lead exposure in 58 bald eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus found dead in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We determined lead concentrations in livers, examined differences in exposure among ages and between sexes, and recorded clinical signs consistent with lead poisoning. Most (60%) of the bald eagles had detectable lead concentrations, and 38% of the 58 had concentrations within the lethal range for lead poisoning. We found no differences in exposure based on sex or age, but we did find an inverse relationship between body and liver mass and liver lead concentration. The high percentage of lead-exposed bald eagles encouraged us to further examine potential sources of lead in our local environment. We initiated a study on the Fish and Wildlife Service's Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge to investigate if discarded offal piles from hunter-killed deer were a potential source of lead exposure to scavenging wildlife such as the bald eagle. Radiographs showed that 36% of offal piles in our sample area contained lead fragments ranging from 1 to 107 particles per pile. Our study indicated that 1) lead exposure rates for bald eagles found dead in our Upper Midwest study area were high, 2) more than one-third of the bald eagles found dead in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin had liver lead concentrations consistent with lead poisoning, and 3) discarded offal piles from deer shot with lead ammunition can be a potential source of lead exposure for bald eagles.

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