Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Ecotoxicological Methodologies to Evaluate Biomarkers at Different Scales in Neotropical Anurans
Published on: April 28, 2023
Liver lead concentrations in raptors in New Jersey, USA, 2008-2010
William Stansley1, Lisa A Murphy
1New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics, Lebanon, NJ 08833, USA. bill.stansley@earthlink.net
Abstract:
Lead exposure in New Jersey raptors was assessed by analyzing liver samples from carcasses obtained from wildlife rehabilitators. Samples were collected from 221 individuals representing 13 species. Concentrations were within the range of normal background exposure in 12 species. One red-tailed hawk had a liver lead concentration consistent with clinical poisoning (7.4 μg/g wet weight), which represents an incidence of 1% (1/104) in that species and 0.5% (1/221) in the overall sample. A second red-tailed hawk had a liver lead concentration consistent with subclinical exposure (2.1 μg/g wet weight). The combined incidence of elevated exposure (subclinical exposure + clinical poisoning) was 2% (2/104) in red-tailed hawks and 1% (2/221) in the overall sample.
