Metal accumulation in blood plasma and in femora of feral pigeon Columba livia free living in smelting, urban and rural area in Kosovo

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of environmental pollution in level of B, Ba, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn, in blood plasma and in femora of Feral pigeons Columba livia in three localities: Mitrovica town-industrial area, Peja town- urban area and Lukina village- rural area. The plasma level of Ba in pigeons from Mitrovica is higher than in pigeons from Peja and Lukina. The plasma level of Fe, Mg and Zn of Mitrovica pigeons, is moderately higher than in Peja and Lukina. The concentration of Ba, Fe, Sr and Zn in femora of pigeons from Mitrovica is higher than in Lukina. B, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sr and Zn concentration in femora of Peja pigeons, are higher than in Lukina, while B, Fe, Mn, Sr and Zn are higher than in Mitrovica. The Pb concentration in femora of Mitrovica pigeons, is critically higher. The accumulation of Ba in blood plasma and concentration of B, Ba, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn, in femora of Mitrovica pigeons, draws attention to the potential hazard to the children of that area. Feral pigeons can be useful organisms for chronic evaluation of environmental pollution with heavy metals.