Risk Assessment of Chromium, Lead and Cadmium in Feed, Water and Shed Feather of Some Captive Birds at Lahore Zoo, Pakistan

Abstract

Concentration of heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) was determined in the feathers of eight birds, Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Ring Necked (R.N) pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Green Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor), White Peafowl (Pavo muticus), Pied Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Green Java Peafowl (Pavo muticus), Black Shoulder Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) from Lahore Zoo, Pakistan. For this purpose, water, feed and shed feathers of birds were collected from zoo. The metal accumulation pattern in studied feathers of birds was in the order: Pb>Cr>Cd. Difference in R.N pheasant was observed with an accumulation trend of Pb>Cd>Cr. Highest concentration of Cr (Mean ± S.D. 0.22 ± 0.022µg/g), Cd (0.155 ± 0.01µg/g) and Pb (0.543 ± 0.572µg/g) was detected in Emu, Black shoulder peafowl and white peafowl respectively. Lowest concentration of Pb, Cd and Cr was recorded in Ring Necked pheasant. Significant variation in metal accumulation trend was observed between water and feed of birds (p˂0.05). Highest was in the feed compared to water with an accumulation trend of Cr>Pb>Cd. A strong positive correlation (0.70), between the accumulation of heavy metals in the feathers of birds with their feed, was observed. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in the feathers of all the selected birds were below permissible limits of heavy metals in the feathers of birds. The present study concluded feathers of the bird could be used non-destructive indicators of heavy metal contamination.