Pigeons: A new role in air pollution

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted to determine the lead content of the various tissues and organs of two groups of wild pigeons. One group was obtained in the City of Philadelphia. The other group was captured in rural Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Tissue and organ lead content of both groups was assayed by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Each bird was carefully examined to determine the possible presence of imbedded or ingested lead. None was found. The mean lead content per unit weight of the hard tissues of the city pigeons was significantly higher than the corresponding values for the rural birds. The blood lead content of the two groups (a parameter which is often assayed in screenings of chronically exposed human populations) did not reflect a significant difference. Possible sources of lead intake are examined and references to past literature are cited which indicate that the most significant general source of biological lead is probably atmospheric. The routine examination of wild animals that may harbor disease-producing organisms or vectors is a commonly accepted procedure. The authors advance the proposition that the ubiquitous presence of certain animal pests, notably pigeons, may fend itself to a similar monitoring of the chronic uptake of atmospheric metallic pollutants. © 1970 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.