Meeting Abstract
Studies of lead exposure in waterfowl have used presence of lead shot in the gizzard to identify birds for tissue metal analysis. We examined waterfowl donated to us by hunters at Catahoula Lake, Louisiana for lead and mercury liver concentration, presence of metal/lead shot in the gizzard, and intestinal parasites. Catahoula Lake has been under a mercury advisory for fish consumption for a number of years. In addition, sediments across the lake contain approximately 2 lead shot/ft2. Sixty-six percent of gizzards contained metal/lead shot and 60% had intestinal parasites. Liver lead concentration ranged from 0.0 – 29.7 ppm and 33% of ducks had lead concentrations greater than a lethal level. Mercury in liver ranged from 0.4 – 3.97 ppm and 0% of ducks had mercury concentrations greater than a lethal level. Both presence of metal/lead shot in the gizzard and parasite infection were unrelated to liver lead or mercury concentration. Our results indicate that waterfowl exposed to mercury and lead are not more prone to intestinal parasite infection and that presence of lead shot in the gizzard is unrelated to liver lead burden.
