Associations of urban environmental pollution with
health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird
species

J 2017

Associations of urban environmental pollution with health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird species

BAUEROVÁ, Petra, Jitka VINKLEROVÁ, Jakub HRANÍČEK, Vojtěch ČORBA, Libor VOJTEK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Associations of urban environmental pollution with health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird species

Authors

BAUEROVÁ, Petra (203 Czech Republic), Jitka VINKLEROVÁ (203 Czech Republic), Jakub HRANÍČEK (203 Czech Republic), Vojtěch ČORBA (203 Czech Republic), Libor VOJTEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jana SVOBODOVÁ (203 Czech Republic) and Michal VINKLER (203 Czech Republic, guarantor)

Edition

Science of the Total Environment, AMSTERDAM, Elsevier, 2017, 0048-9697

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30105 Physiology

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.610

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00096947

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.276

UT WoS

000406294900152

Keywords (in Czech)

Antropogenní znečištění; anémie; živočišná hematologie; hematopoéza; PM10; stopové kovy

Keywords in English

Anthropogenic pollution; anemia; animal hematology; hematopoiesis; PM10; trace metals

Abstract

V originále

Urban environmental pollution results in contamination of the tissues of synanthropic organisms by toxic trace elements with potential impacts on human health. Passerine birds may serve as convenient indicators of such contamination. In this study we investigated the effect of blood and plumage contamination with heavy metals (lead Pb, cadmium Cd, copper Cu, chromium Cr) and arsenic metalloid (As) on condition, health and ornamental colour in free-living great tit (Parus major) males from 13 cities across the Czech Republic (EU), mist netted during the early breading season (April – May). Our results showed a significant association of heavy metal tissue contamination with immune function, namely leukocyte composition in the avian blood circulation. High heavy metal contamination in bird feathers was linked to a high heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, indicating long-term stress in individuals inhabiting heavily polluted environments. In contrast, males with higher concentrations of heavy metals in blood had a lower H/L ratio, assumingly due to the direct toxicity of heavy metals in certain cell types. This is also supported by traits indicative of anaemia-like haemolytic conditions (decreased absolute erythrocyte count) and increased haematopoiesis (a tendency for increased frequencies of immature erythrocytes). We did not find any association of heavy metal contamination with the bacteriolytic activity of plasma complement, feather growth or ornamentation (black breast stripe area and yellow coloration). There was no significant relationship between heavy metal contamination in blood or feathers and PM10 pollution at the study sites. Our correlational study is the first to show on a large geographic scale that despite strict European air pollution regulations and regular monitoring that have allowed general improvements in atmospheric contamination, non-degradable heavy metals persistently contaminate animal blood and feathers in anthropogenic environments at levels that may have subclinical yet physiological effects with varied influence on health.

Citovat

BAUEROVÁ, Petra, Jitka VINKLEROVÁ, Jakub HRANÍČEK, Vojtěch ČORBA, Libor VOJTEK, Jana SVOBODOVÁ and Michal VINKLER. Associations of urban environmental pollution with health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird species. Science of the Total Environment. AMSTERDAM: Elsevier, 2017, vol. 601, December, p. 1556-1565. ISSN 0048-9697. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.276.

@article{1383032,
   author = {Bauerová, Petra and Vinklerová, Jitka and Hraníček, Jakub and Čorba, Vojtěch and Vojtek, Libor and Svobodová, Jana and Vinkler, Michal},
   article_location = {AMSTERDAM},
   article_number = {December},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.276},
   keywords = {Anthropogenic pollution; anemia; animal hematology; hematopoiesis; PM10; trace metals},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0048-9697},
   journal = {Science of the Total Environment},
   title = {Associations of urban environmental pollution with health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird species},
   volume = {601},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1383032
AU  - Bauerová, Petra - Vinklerová, Jitka - Hraníček, Jakub - Čorba, Vojtěch - Vojtek, Libor - Svobodová, Jana - Vinkler, Michal
PY  - 2017
TI  - Associations of urban environmental pollution with health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird species
JF  - Science of the Total Environment
VL  - 601
IS  - December
SP  - 1556-1565
EP  - 1556-1565
PB  - Elsevier
SN  - 00489697
KW  - Anthropogenic pollution
KW  - anemia
KW  - animal hematology
KW  - hematopoiesis
KW  - PM10
KW  - trace metals
N2  - Urban environmental pollution results in contamination of the tissues of synanthropic organisms by toxic trace elements with potential impacts on human health. Passerine birds may serve as convenient indicators of such contamination. In this study we investigated the effect of blood and plumage contamination with heavy metals (lead Pb, cadmium Cd, copper Cu, chromium Cr) and arsenic metalloid (As) on condition, health and ornamental colour in free-living great tit (Parus major) males from 13 cities across the Czech Republic (EU), mist netted during the early breading season (April – May). Our results showed a significant association of heavy metal tissue contamination with immune function, namely leukocyte composition in the avian blood circulation. High heavy metal contamination in bird feathers was linked to a high heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, indicating long-term stress in individuals inhabiting heavily polluted environments. In contrast, males with higher concentrations of heavy metals in blood had a lower H/L ratio, assumingly due to the direct toxicity of heavy metals in certain cell types. This is also supported by traits indicative of anaemia-like haemolytic conditions (decreased absolute erythrocyte count) and increased haematopoiesis (a tendency for increased frequencies of immature erythrocytes). We did not find any association of heavy metal contamination with the bacteriolytic activity of plasma complement, feather growth or ornamentation (black breast stripe area and yellow coloration). There was no significant relationship between heavy metal contamination in blood or feathers and PM10 pollution at the study sites. Our correlational study is the first to show on a large geographic scale that despite strict European air pollution regulations and regular monitoring that have allowed general improvements in atmospheric contamination, non-degradable heavy metals persistently contaminate animal blood and feathers in anthropogenic environments at levels that may have subclinical yet physiological effects with varied influence on health.
ER  -

BAUEROVÁ, Petra, Jitka VINKLEROVÁ, Jakub HRANÍČEK, Vojtěch ČORBA, Libor VOJTEK, Jana SVOBODOVÁ and Michal VINKLER. Associations of urban environmental pollution with health-related physiological traits in a free-living bird species. \textit{Science of the Total Environment}. AMSTERDAM: Elsevier, 2017, vol.~601, December, p.~1556-1565. ISSN~0048-9697. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.276.

Detailed Information on Publication Record