Historical (1960 – 2011) and spatial analysis of mercury and arsenic in two species of tropical birds in southeastern Mexico

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 485; p. 136917
• Main Authors: Partida-Lara, Ruth, Enríquez, Paula L., Vázquez-Pérez, José Raúl, Borges-Ramírez, Merle M., Rodríguez-Yah, Marina E., Osten, Jaime Rendón-von
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.03.2025
• Subjects: Animals; Arsenic - analysis; Birds - metabolism; Conservation areas; Critical sites; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Feathers - chemistry; Heavy metals; Mercury - analysis; Mexico; Museum specimens; Songbirds - metabolism; Mexico; Conservation areas; Heavy metals; Museum specimens; Critical sites
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136917

Spatiotemporal variation in the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in body feathers of Red-throated Ant-Tanager (Driophlox fuscicauda) and Clay-colored thrush (Turdus grayi) were evaluated. Body feathers were obtained from scientific collections (specimens collected from 1960 to 2011) in Mexico. Trace elements concentrations were determined by voltammetry through acid digestion. Red-throated Ant-Tanager presented higher concentrations of Hg (31.7 ± 23.7 μg/g) and As (7.58 ± 5.84 μg/g) than the Clay-colored thrush (Hg 1.04 ± 0.72 μg/g; As 1.68 ± 1.09 μg/g). In Quintana Roo, were identified three critical regions with Hg (54.4 ± 18.5 μg/g to 67.3 ± 4.5 μg/g) and one with As (15.16 ± 3.79 μg/g). In Red-throated Ant-Tanager there was an oscillatory pattern in Hg concentrations, with the peak in 1993 and As in 2007. In Clay-colored thrush there was also an oscillatory pattern in Hg with a peak in 1974, but in As was from 1960 to 1993 and then decreased. Factors intrinsic to each species such as trophic guild, eating habits, age, could have influenced the difference in the spatial and temporal concentrations obtained. These variations of Hg and As concentrations may be due to the enrichment of anthropogenic trace elements metals by atmospheric deposition. [Display omitted] •First historical analysis of trace elements in tropical bird species of Mexico.•In both species of birds, mercury concentrations were higher than those of arsenic.•Critical regions with trace elements were identified in Quintana Roo, Mexico.•Trace element concentrations as a temporal and spatial baseline for future research.