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Muralidharan RJLBPCS 2018 www.rjlbpcs.com Life Science Informatics Publications
Original Research Article
A STUDY ON HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION IN THE FEATHERS OF
YOUNG HOUSE SPARROW PASSER DOMESTICUS RESIDING IN
MUMBAI CITY, INDIA.
Leena muralidharan
V.K.K.Menon college, Bhandup (east),Mumbai 93, Maharashtra, India.
ABSTRACT: The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is one of the most common
birds found in the urban environment. The population of house sparrow living in
nest colonies near to human habitats is now threatened by pollutants. Knowledge of
toxicological residue studies in house sparrow is still in dearth. The primary goal of
present study is: To understand if we are providing adequate habitat for the fauna or
attracting harm that may be detrimental to individuals and population overtime. Use
of bird as biomonitors is one of the effective methods in quantifying the overall
health of ecosystem. Aim of the present study is to determine the level of heavy
metal accumulated in the down feather of house sparrow. High level of Calcium,
chromium, Iron and magnesium detected in down feathers of young sparrow shows
external contamination from anthropogenic sources which cannot be ruled out.
KEYWORDS: Sparrow, heavy metal, down feather
Corresponding Author: Dr. Leena muralidharan* Ph.D.
V.K.K.Menon college, Bhandup (east),Mumbai 93, Maharashtra, India.
Email Address: leena.doctor@gmail.com
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1. INTRODUCTION:
Pollution of the natural environment by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Its
main sources are: leather tanning, sewage water, city refuse, fertilizers, pesticides,
automobiles, industrial effluents, and e wastes [1]-[3]. Dumping of waste into the
soils and wetlands is a common activity that finally affects the food chain ,
ecosystem also its amount accumulated by birds [4]-[7].
Due to this reason soils, air, and water are heavily polluted with various heavy
metals like Hg, As, Pb, Zn, Mn, Li, Cd, and Cr. Metals like mercury (Hg), cadmium
(Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel(Ni), cobalt (Co), and zinc (Zn) are highly
toxic to fauna components of the ecosystem[8]-[11].
Heavy metals thus have a serious impact on the environment that can threaten the
ecosystem’s stability. Cd in both the environment and food has long persistence and
high toxicity and is listed as one of the most dangerous trace element, while the
toxic effect of Pb has been well established in birds for over a century and has
become dangerous to natural life and public health. Analyzing pollutants in living
organisms is more attractive as it provides precise information about the
bioavailability, bio magnification and bio-transference of pollutants. Birds are the
bio monitors of geographical, historical and global patterns of heavy metal pollution
in the environment, as they occupy a wide range of trophic levels in different food
chains [12]-[18].
The House Sparrow is a non-migratory sedentary bird living in the urban
environments. Its ecological niche is characterized by the interaction with
anthropogenic structures. It seems to be tolerant to urban environmental stress, and
also has a high reproductive rate. Due to this characteristics features the House
Sparrow is considered as one of the most suitable birds for urban bio monitoring of
heavy metals [19]. The population of house sparrow living near human habitats is
now threatened by pollutants. . Reports are now pouring in from all over India and
around the world about rapid decline in the passer domesticus populations which
was once found in abundance.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Sample collection and preparation:
Birds can be exposed to heavy metals both externally through physical contact, and
internally by consumption of contaminated food [20]-[27]. Nestlings was taken as
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experimental model for the study .Due to the fact that the bird readily uses man-
made nest-boxes, artificial nest were made in different areas of Andheri (west)
regions of Mumbai city. Fallen down Feathers were collected from the each nests
selected for the study. Feathers were collected from 30 nests of Andheri area,
Mumbai, Maharashtra. Feathers were placed in individual envelopes and labeled for
later Identification. Metals enter feathers during the 2nd –3rd week, it takes for them
to grow; then the blood supply atrophies, and there is no further deposition of metals
.To remove loosely adhering external contaminants, feathers were washed
thoroughly with acetone and then with doubly distilled water. All specimens were
transferred into clean, acid-washed glass vials and oven-dried at 60 °C until constant
weights were obtained.
2.2. Analytical procedure:
Specimens were digested in a mixture of super-pure nitric and per chloric acids
(Merck) (2: 1, v/v). The volume of the digestion mixture was 10 times the sample’s
mass in g. After soaking the specimens in the acid mixture overnight at room
temperature, the mixture was gradually heated to 200 °C in a sand bath over a period
of 3 h. Digestion was then continued until no fumes were observed and the mixture
became pale yellow. Mixtures were then diluted to 25 mL with doubly distilled
water. Blanks and reference material were run with the samples. Finally,
concentrations of Cu, Mg, As, Ca, Mn, Hg, Fe, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Zn were measured
by inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP Optima
3000, Perkin–Elmer, USA).As no studies were conducted on feathers of sparrow
present study would be a good reference.
2.3. Statistical analysis:
Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using SYSTAT for Windows software
(SYSTAT for Windows Inc.26). Differences were considered significant where P
was =0.05.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The mean concentration of Cr recorded in the down feathers was, 25.173 μg/g
(Table 1). Chromium concentrations observed in the present study are relatively
higher compared to the levels reported by other studies in the Indian subcontinent
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[14]. The high levels of Cr observed in the samples exceeding the threshold of 2.8
μg/g [10] could be linked to the anthropogenic source of contamination.
The concentrations of Manganese recorded in the, down feathers samples was
167.57 μg/g. (Table.1).The highest concentrations of Mn in the urban samples were
detected in down feathers. The levels of Mn reported in the study are comparable to
the levels reported by [14] in Bubulcusibis (21 μg/g), by [28] in Ardea cinerea
(9.90±3.62 μg/g), and in Egretta garzetta (9.94±2.75 μg/g). Mn contamination in
food chain generally occurs through anthropogenic sources such as urban waste
dumps and industrial effluents [14] .The mean concentrations of Zn recorded in the
down feathers samples was 112.04 μg/g (Table.1) . The values of Zn observed in the
current study are lower compared to the levels reported by [28] in feathers of Ardea
cinerea (204±57.2 μg/g) and Egretta garzetta (233±64.7 μg/g). The mean
concentrations of Cu recorded in bird down feathers samples 1.23 μg/g. The results
of the study are in consistent with previous studies by [29], [6]. Cu is one of the
essential elements for various physiological functions and also as s t r u c t u r a l
component of numerous metallo enzymes. Excess intake of copper can lead to
harmful effects including growth irregularity, respiratory malfunctions, and
carcinogenesis. The presence of copper in feathers suggests the dietary source of
metals; however, external contamination from anthropogenic sources also cannot be
ruled out. High level of Calcium, Iron and magnesium was also detected in down
feathers of young sparrow(Passer domesticus).
Table no 1. Showing metal accumulated in the feathers of young sparrow.
Metal metal content in down feather μg/g
Magnessium 2577±123.7
Manganese 24.32±9.82
Lead ND
Zinc 22.8±2.7
Arsenic ND
Mercury ND
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Calcium 15929 15929±84.7
Cadmium ND
Copper 2.3±0.52
Chromium 25.73±3.81
Iron 14550.35± 138.6
ND less than 0.01ppm ± standard deviation
4. CONCLUSION
It was evident from the results that feather analysis is an effective and non-
destructive strategy to study the heavy metal contamination in the food chain.
Higher concentrations of Chromium, Iron, Calcium ,Copper, Magnesium and Zinc
in the feather samples. It reveals potential anthropogenic sources of contamination
from leather tanneries, metal fabrication industries, and vehicular traffic. Presence of
Zn and Cr mainly indicates the anthropogenic sources (leather tanneries, metal
industries, and vehicular traffic) of metals in the food chain. The high levels of Cr
observed in the samples exceeding the threshold of 2.8 μg/g [10] could be linked to
the anthropogenic source of contamination. Accumulation of Ca, Mg, and Mn
suggests natural sources of these metals in the diet. Accumulation of Fe indicates the
possibility of source from metal fabrication industries present in the rural areas. The
presence of copper suggests the dietary source of metals in feathers, high calcium
content may be that passerine species supplement their nestlings with calcium rich
foods. The study confirms the hypothesis that analyzing metal contents in feathers
provide reliable method in monitoring environmental contamination .In the present
analysis certain toxic metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead has not
reached the toxic level. Over all the health of the sparrows (Passer domesticus) of
Mumbai appears to be normal.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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Author thanks University of Mumbai for providing the financial assistance. Author
wishes to thank IIT Mumbai for support extended during analysis. Support extended
by management and staff of Menon college are greatly acknowledged.
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