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

PIA SIMONETTI; SANDRA BOTTE; JORGE MARCOVECCHIO

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015

0025-326X

Concentrations of six trace metals were determined in the eggshells of American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) from the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. All metals measured in selected samples presented concentrations above 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 medium concentrations of the six trace metals. This may indicate a possible transfer of themetals that are available in the environment through food chains. Our study indicates that American oystercatchers sequester heavy metals in their eggshells. Therefore the eggshells may be useful as biomonitors for trace metal contamination in the Bahía Blanca estuary.