Abstract:

Examinations of bird feathers can indicate the heavy metal contamination of the environment. Lead and cadmium are the most frequently checked heavy metals. For this study, species of wildfowl (Anseriformes) were selected, since they are important as human food. The samples were collected from Mute Swan (Cygnus olor, n=l), Greylag Goose (Anser anser, n=2), Bean Goose (Anser fabalis, n=34), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, n=87), Garganey (Anas querquedula, n=l), Teal (Anas crecca, n=7), Wigeon (Anas penelope, n=3), Pochard (Aythya ferina, n=5) and Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca, n= I). A total of fourty samples were analysed. Significant differences in heavy metal content were found among the different species. The Greylang Goose showed the highest levels . Further, females had 2.5 times higher lead- and twice higher cadmium concentration in their feathers than males. There was a high correlation (r=0.868) between the lead and cadmium concentrations of the samples, thus the two elements seem to appear together.