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Related Experiment Videos

Lead burden in mute swans from Denmark

B Clausen, K Elvestad, O Karlog

    Nordisk Veterinaermedicin
    |March 1, 1982
    PubMed
    Summary

    Lead poisoning in mute swans is a significant issue, with many deaths attributed to starvation, but lead analysis reveals widespread contamination. This study highlights the underdiagnosis of lead poisoning in avian wildlife.

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    Area of Science:

    • Ornithology
    • Environmental Toxicology
    • Wildlife Pathology

    Background:

    • Mute swans experienced high mortality during the 1978-79 Danish winter.
    • Autopsies revealed starvation as the primary cause of death in many swans.
    • Lead poisoning is a suspected but often unconfirmed cause of mortality in wild birds.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the prevalence and impact of lead poisoning in mute swans.
    • To assess the accuracy of autopsy diagnoses for lead poisoning.
    • To determine lead levels in different tissues and their correlation with age and origin.

    Main Methods:

    • Autopsy of 2111 mute swans, with detailed examination of 76 selected swans and 184 ringed swans.
    • Analysis of lead content in liver (wet weight) and sternum (dry weight).
    • Correlation analysis of lead levels with swan origin, sex, and age.

    Main Results:

    • Starvation was the most common autopsy finding, but lead pellets were found in only 0.7% of gizzards.
    • Lead poisoning was underdiagnosed at autopsy; 10% of ringed swans had >7 mg/kg liver lead, and 40% had elevated sternum lead.
    • Lead levels varied geographically, with higher liver lead in western Jutland and lower sternum lead in southern Denmark. Age correlated positively with sternum lead.

    Conclusions:

    • Lead poisoning is a significant, often undetected, cause of mortality in mute swans.
    • Standard autopsy methods may underestimate the prevalence of lead poisoning in avian populations.
    • Geographical and age-related factors influence lead accumulation in mute swans.

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