Exceptionally high Cd levels and other trace elements in eggshells of American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) from the Bahía Blanca Estuary, Argentina

SIMONETTI, PIA; BOTTÉ, SANDRA E.; MARCOVECCHIO, JORGE E.

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 100 p. 495 - 500

0025-326X

Concentrations of six trace metals were determined in the eggshells of American oystercatchers (Haematopuspalliatus) from the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. All metals measured in selected samples presented concentrationsabove the detection limit.Means found for Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn and Niwere as follow: 2.02±0.52, 7.23±2.33,0.78±0.03, 2.22±1.13 and 6.05±0.89mg/kg dw. Themean concentrations of Cd foundwere surprisingly high:13.28±3.38 mg/kg dw. Previous studiesmade on prey items of the American oystercatchers showed lowto mediumconcentrations of the six trace metals. This may indicate a possible transfer of themetals that are availablein the environment through food chains. Our study indicates that American oystercatchers sequester heavymetals in their eggshells. Therefore the eggshells may be useful as biomonitors for trace metal contaminationin the Bahía Blanca estuary.