Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model
Heavy metal pollution poses a growing threat to wetland ecosystems, impacting their structure and function. Chenqiao Wetland and Qinglong Lake (Henan, China), key bird habitats in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, were analyzed for heavy metal contamination. We assessed the exposure...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002124 |
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| author | Jian Ding Ni Wang Yaqiao Lian Qian Li Xinran Li Fei Yu |
| author_facet | Jian Ding Ni Wang Yaqiao Lian Qian Li Xinran Li Fei Yu |
| author_sort | Jian Ding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Heavy metal pollution poses a growing threat to wetland ecosystems, impacting their structure and function. Chenqiao Wetland and Qinglong Lake (Henan, China), key bird habitats in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, were analyzed for heavy metal contamination. We assessed the exposure risks of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Zn) to aquatic birds using an integrated model that considered multiple intake variables: soil intake rate (Is), water intake rate (Iw), plant intake rate (Idf), and prey items intake rate (aquatic animals, Idf). Results revealed significant variation in heavy metal pollution across sampling points, with Cd presenting the highest potential ecological risk in soil. Bioaccumulation coefficients were notably higher in benthic invertebrates compared with fish. Omnivorous and herbivorous birds exhibited significantly higher heavy metal exposure doses (Ej) than carnivorous birds, with the exception of Cr. Among all elements, Zn exhibited the highest Ej, while Pb and Cr posed a high exposure risk (hazard quotient [HQ] > 2) across both food and soil pathways in both omnivorous and herbivorous aquatic birds, which were predominantly exposed to Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr through plants rather than soil. Conversely, the high Cr HQ in omnivorous and carnivorous birds was primarily associated with the consumption of aquatic animals. This study highlights the importance of considering both food and soil pathways when assessing heavy metal exposure risks in aquatic birds. These findings provide valuable insights for developing strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution in wetland ecosystems and protect bird populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6c4875a267f49d8810f599a190631a0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6c4875a267f49d8810f599a190631a02025-08-20T03:13:08ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-08-0160e0361110.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03611Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated modelJian Ding0Ni Wang1Yaqiao Lian2Qian Li3Xinran Li4Fei Yu5School of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; Engineering Technology Research Center of Yellow River Basin Ecology in Henan Province, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; Engineering Technology Research Center of Yellow River Basin Ecology in Henan Province, Xinxiang 453007, China; Corresponding author at: School of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.Heavy metal pollution poses a growing threat to wetland ecosystems, impacting their structure and function. Chenqiao Wetland and Qinglong Lake (Henan, China), key bird habitats in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, were analyzed for heavy metal contamination. We assessed the exposure risks of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Zn) to aquatic birds using an integrated model that considered multiple intake variables: soil intake rate (Is), water intake rate (Iw), plant intake rate (Idf), and prey items intake rate (aquatic animals, Idf). Results revealed significant variation in heavy metal pollution across sampling points, with Cd presenting the highest potential ecological risk in soil. Bioaccumulation coefficients were notably higher in benthic invertebrates compared with fish. Omnivorous and herbivorous birds exhibited significantly higher heavy metal exposure doses (Ej) than carnivorous birds, with the exception of Cr. Among all elements, Zn exhibited the highest Ej, while Pb and Cr posed a high exposure risk (hazard quotient [HQ] > 2) across both food and soil pathways in both omnivorous and herbivorous aquatic birds, which were predominantly exposed to Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr through plants rather than soil. Conversely, the high Cr HQ in omnivorous and carnivorous birds was primarily associated with the consumption of aquatic animals. This study highlights the importance of considering both food and soil pathways when assessing heavy metal exposure risks in aquatic birds. These findings provide valuable insights for developing strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution in wetland ecosystems and protect bird populations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002124Heavy metalAquatic birdsEcological riskChenqiao Wetland and Qinglong Lake |
| spellingShingle | Jian Ding Ni Wang Yaqiao Lian Qian Li Xinran Li Fei Yu Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model Global Ecology and Conservation Heavy metal Aquatic birds Ecological risk Chenqiao Wetland and Qinglong Lake |
| title | Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model |
| title_full | Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model |
| title_short | Assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the Yellow River (China), using an integrated model |
| title_sort | assessment of heavy metal exposure risk to aquatic birds in the key wetland habitats of the yellow river china using an integrated model |
| topic | Heavy metal Aquatic birds Ecological risk Chenqiao Wetland and Qinglong Lake |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002124 |
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