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Presence of Heavy Metals in Feathers of Avian Species and in Soils of Barangay Ipil-Calancan Bay, Sta.Cruz, Marinduque Island, Philippines

Michael Sapunto Sanchez, Maxima Eusebio Flavier, Vachel Gay Velasco Paller, Carmelita Marasigan Rebancos, Antonio Javina Alcantara, Ria Deomampo Sanchez and Daisy Villasis Pelegrina

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 42, Issue 3, August 2019

Keywords: Avian species, bioaccumulation, feathers, heavy metals, soils

Published on: 19 Aug 2019

Heavy metals may contaminate food, water, and air and bring toxic effects to both wildlife and humans. This study sought to assess the concentrations of heavy metals in the feathers of avian species and in soils using X-ray fluorescence in Barangay Ipil-Calancan Bay, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque Island, Philippines. Iron, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Sc, Pb, Sr, and Se were observed in all samples while Co and As were only found in sampled avian species. Among these heavy metals, the concentrations of As, Cr, Pb, Se, and Zn were beyond the critical levels which were reported in other studies. Highly significant concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Sc, Sr, Zn, and Mn were observed in Philippine pied fantail, white browed crake, white-collared kingfisher and little heron. Arsenic accumulation was only observed in yellow-vented bulbul while Cu, Fe, Sr, Zn, and Cr were significantly lowest in pink-necked green pigeon and Tabon scrubfowl. The kingfisher, crake, scrubfowl, and fantail may be the important bioindicators of the area. This study found correlation between soil and feather heavy metal contaminations concerning Mo with Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, and Sb, Mn with Rb and Sb, Se with Sc, and Zn with Sc. Heavy metals may cause security problems in the area such as with food, humans and ecosystems’health. The study also provides baseline data using a non-invasive technique for biomonitoring heavy metal contamination.

ISSN 1511-3701

e-ISSN 2231-8542

Article ID

JSSH(S)-1127-20

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