Preliminary Data: Testing Lead (Pb) in Feathers

Here is an update as we develop our methods. We tested feathers from sick crows for lead. Thanks to Sierra Sico for the hours spent in the lab doing this! The feathers came from Avian Haven, a rehabilitation facility. Thanks to the folks at Avian Haven for the great work they do with their patients! Three of the feathers came from birds that had blood testing data. The other three birds did not have blood concentration data.

Bird 1 had a blood level of 11.7 mg Pb/dL and the feather tested at 0.071 mg Pb/L.

Bird 2 had a blood level tested as low. This means that it was below the limit of detection of the instrument testing the lead but there was some lead present. The feather tested at 0.030 mg Pb/L.

Bird 3 had a blood level > 66 mg Pb/dL. This poor individual was highly exposed. The feather at 0.181 mg/L.

Birds 4, 5, and 6 had feather concentrations of 0.071, 0.011 and 0.069 mg/L.

For those interested in our methods, we digested feathers in a concentrated nitric acid/30% hydrogen peroxide mixture at room temperature for 24 hours. Lead concentrations from the feathers were determined using ICP-AES. Note the difference in units of concentrations between the blood and feathers. For blood it is milligrams of lead per deciliter of blood. For feathers it is milligrams of lead per L of solution containing the digested feather. We are also working on developing methods using Atomic absorption spectroscopy on our digested feathers. Not as sensitive as ICP but a quicker and less expensive method.

This is good data from a method development perspective. Feathers may provide an effective and less intrusive way to screen for lead in wildlife and allow us to be more proactive in doing so.

Thanks to all of you who have backed us!