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A risk assessment for lead in birds.
Abstract: Ecotoxicologists and ecologists have examined the
effects of pollutants on individuals and populations largely in terms of
one or only a few effects. Yet the recent trend toward a holistic approach
to ecological risk assessment suggests that a rigorous paradigm should
be applied to toxicants, from hazard identification to risk characterization.
Recent discussions have recognized that an up-front problem formulation
phase is more critical in ecological risk assessment than it is for human
health risk assessment. In this article a modified environmental health
risk assessment paradigm is used to examine the risk of lead to
birds. This risk analysis is largely conceptual, based on laboratory and
field data, and incorporates information currently available. The model
expands the hazard identification phase to create a target identification
phase that includes the identification of receptors, endpoints, relationships,
spatial and temporal scales, and indicators. The target identification
phase is unique to the particular hazard, species, population, or community
being examined. Lead can cause mortality, or can indirectly affect
populations through effects on the food base, avian behavior, reproductive
success, and recruitment. Lead can (1) decrease the abundance and
availability of prey, (2) bioaccumulate in prey causing increased lead
toxicosis in predators, or (3) increase prey availability by interfering
with its hiding or escape behavior. Moreover, lower abundance of prey can
lead to starvation or nutrient deficiencies, which amplify the absorption
and retention of lead. Lead also causes decreases in clutch
and egg size, mortality of embryos and nestlings, depression of growth,
and deficits in behavior that affect survival. Lead decreases migratory
behavior, and increases vulnerability to cold stress, hunters, and other
predators. Research needs for evaluating the risk of lead in birds
include obtaining data on (1) metal dynamics within various tissues as
a function of dose and time since initial exposure, (2) low-level effects
on embryos, (3) effects on chicks following fledging and in the period
prior to recruitment, (4) effects on adult foraging skills and reproductive
behavior, and (5) the relationship between effects from exposure in the
laboratory and those from exposure in the wild. This latter point is extremely
important, particularly if wild birds have other means of ridding the body
of lead not available or less apparent to laboratory birds.
Author:
Address: Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University,
Piscataway, New Jersey 08855-1059, USA.
Abbreviated Journal Title: J Toxicol Environ Health
Date Of Publication: 1995 Aug
Journal Volume: 45
Page Numbers: 369 through 396
Number of References: 146
Country of Publication: UNITED STATES
Language of Article: Eng
Issue/Part/Supplement: 4
ISSN: 0098-4108
Contract/Grant Information:
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Number: ES05022 Acronym: ES Organization: NIEHS
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Number: ES05955 Acronym: ES Organization: NIEHS
MESH Headings:
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Animal
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Behavior, Animal
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Birds (Central Concept)
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Environmental Exposure
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Forecasting
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Lead (Central Concept)
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Lead Poisoning (Central Concept)
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Reproduction
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Risk Assessment
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Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number:
Article ID: 95371153