Biomonitoring of toxic metals in feathers of predatory birds from eastern regions of Hungary

The aim of our study was to investigate the concentrations of toxic metals in the feathers of predatory birds in the Hortobagyi Madarpark (Bird Hospital Foundation). Samples were collected from different predatory birds originated from the eastern and north-eastern region of Hungary. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of toxic metals. The mean values varied between bird species groups, their concentrations were between 0.29 +/- 0.24 and 0.40 +/- 0.30 mg/kg for arsenic (As), 0.09 +/- 0.03 and 0.20 +/- 0.18 mg/kg for cadmium (Cd), 1.15 +/- 1.40 to 2.30 +/- 1.52 mg/kg for lead (Pb) and 0.58 +/- 0.31 to 2.19 +/- 1.25 mg/kg for mercury (Hg), respectively. The measured values are not over the considered threshold values for these toxic metals and in accordance with similar concentrations of them recorded in similar species within Europe. No significant differences were found in their concentration between genders or age in the species. According to the detected concentrations of these metals, their levels accumulated in the feather of the investigated birds do not indicate the possibility of poisoning.