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Preliminary evaluation on the use of homing pigeons as a biomonitor in urban areas

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Abstract

This study evaluates the usefulness of homing pigeons as a biomonitor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban environments. The mean concentrations of total PAHs in liver and lung tissues were greater in pigeons from Beijing compared to pigeons from Chengdu, however, this difference was only statistically significant for PAH concentrations in liver tissue (P < 0.05). Similarly, the severity of anthracosis or pneumoconiosis in lung tissue and hepatitis in liver tissue was greater in pigeons from Beijing compared to pigeons from Chengdu. Low molecular weight PAHs dominated the contribution of individual PAHs in both tissues. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for most low and moderate molecular weights PAHs in liver and for some low and high molecular weights PAHs in lung between the two cites. The profile patterns of individual PAHs were similar between lung tissue of pigeons and between local ambient airs in summer for both cities, whereas the profile patterns between liver tissue and pigeon food were less similar. These data suggest that homing pigeons may be of value as a biomonitor of environmental pollution in urban areas.

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Acknowledgments

This study was under the auspices of the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2007AA06Z408) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40730737, 40771179).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China

    W. X. Liu, X. Ling, H. Dou & S. Tao

  2. Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901-6504, USA

    R. S. Halbrook

  3. Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C5, Canada

    D. Martineau

  4. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510640, Guangzhou, China

    X. Liu & G. Zhang

Authors
  1. W. X. Liu
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  2. X. Ling
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  3. R. S. Halbrook
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  4. D. Martineau
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  5. H. Dou
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  6. X. Liu
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  7. G. Zhang
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  8. S. Tao
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Correspondence to W. X. Liu.

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Liu, W.X., Ling, X., Halbrook, R.S. et al. Preliminary evaluation on the use of homing pigeons as a biomonitor in urban areas. Ecotoxicology 19, 295–305 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0412-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0412-4

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