Pesquisa de metais pesados em aves silvestres no Estado de Pernambuco

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the presence of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) in wild bird feathers of various species and caracaras liver (Caracara plancus) by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) technique and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICPOES). Were collected 130 samples of bird feathers originating from seizures of environmental agencies in Pernambuco and free living, also 21 samples of free-living birds livers. The feathers were washed and dried for 48 hours in oven at 60 ° C and after this fragmented and weighed. The livers were fragmented and dried in an oven for 24 hours at 60 °C. Dried samples of feathers and livers were placed in a microwave oven, with 4 ml of HNO3 (65%) and 4 mL of H2O2 (30%). Digested samples were analyzed by ICP OES to Cd, Cu, Cr and Pb, and Hg to ASS. For trafficked birds there was no variation in the concentration of Cd (p <0,0001), Cr (p = 0,0252) and Cu (p <0,0001) as well as Pb (p = 0,2162) and Hg (p = 0,7546). In feathers of living caracaras and dead caracaras there was not variation in concentration of metals: Pb (p = 0.3576), Cd (p = 0,0792), Cr (p = 0,5475), Cu (p = 0,3603), but significant variation was observed for Hg (p = 0.0459) in dead caracaras feathers. Higher Pb concentrations (p <0,0001) and Cr (p <0,0001) were found in feathers than liver of dead caracaras. In this way, it is noteworthy that the presence of heavy metals detected in trafficked wild birds and free-living birds in the state of Pernambuco raises concerns about the health of animals and the impacts caused by these compounds in environment.