Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries

Lead is among the most toxic heavy metals, posing significant risks to all living organisms. It is a pervasive and persistent contaminant in the environment. Ingested lead in birds and wildlife induces a range of sublethal effects that disrupt physiological functions and behavior, ultimately resulti...

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Main Authors: Ivanka Lazarova, Gergana Balieva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/6/387
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author Ivanka Lazarova
Gergana Balieva
author_facet Ivanka Lazarova
Gergana Balieva
author_sort Ivanka Lazarova
collection DOAJ
description Lead is among the most toxic heavy metals, posing significant risks to all living organisms. It is a pervasive and persistent contaminant in the environment. Ingested lead in birds and wildlife induces a range of sublethal effects that disrupt physiological functions and behavior, ultimately resulting in mortality at higher doses or with prolonged exposure. To investigate the relation of lead to accidents and injuries in wild birds, we analyzed lead concentration in 43 wild birds that were admitted as patients to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center (WRBC). The findings reveal a significant dependency between the detected levels of lead in the birds’ bone samples and the reported etiology of their injuries, with variances in the age groups of the patients received at the WRBC in Bulgaria.
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spelling doaj-art-a134feac8a7e4f29bb57bfec5111a4052025-08-20T02:24:38ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-05-0117638710.3390/d17060387Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal InjuriesIvanka Lazarova0Gergana Balieva1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, BulgariaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, BulgariaLead is among the most toxic heavy metals, posing significant risks to all living organisms. It is a pervasive and persistent contaminant in the environment. Ingested lead in birds and wildlife induces a range of sublethal effects that disrupt physiological functions and behavior, ultimately resulting in mortality at higher doses or with prolonged exposure. To investigate the relation of lead to accidents and injuries in wild birds, we analyzed lead concentration in 43 wild birds that were admitted as patients to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center (WRBC). The findings reveal a significant dependency between the detected levels of lead in the birds’ bone samples and the reported etiology of their injuries, with variances in the age groups of the patients received at the WRBC in Bulgaria.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/6/387wild birdsembedded lead pelletslead concentrationbone samplerescue centersraptors
spellingShingle Ivanka Lazarova
Gergana Balieva
Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries
Diversity
wild birds
embedded lead pellets
lead concentration
bone sample
rescue centers
raptors
title Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries
title_full Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries
title_fullStr Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries
title_short Effects of Lead Exposure in Wild Birds as Causes for Incidents and Fatal Injuries
title_sort effects of lead exposure in wild birds as causes for incidents and fatal injuries
topic wild birds
embedded lead pellets
lead concentration
bone sample
rescue centers
raptors
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/6/387
work_keys_str_mv AT ivankalazarova effectsofleadexposureinwildbirdsascausesforincidentsandfatalinjuries
AT gerganabalieva effectsofleadexposureinwildbirdsascausesforincidentsandfatalinjuries