Evaluation of heavy metals Lead and Cadmium in some birds of Khuzestan

According toincreased Concern about the long-term effects of heavy metals as environmental pollutants, studing showed that the bio monitoring could be desirable and satisfactory method to measure heavy metals. Feathers can play the role of both storing and eliminating metals. In this study, accumulation of heavy metals cadmium and lead in birds with emphasis on impact type of habitat (water and drought) were studied in birds in South West of Iran. Tail feathers of 29 birds belonging to 8 species (4 species of aquatic and terrestrial species 4) were collected. In this study heavy metals were measured by using Fillips PU 9400 Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometer. Mean Pb concentration in feather of birds was obtained between 18.23± 1.03 (Aythya nyroca) and 3.33± 1.31(μg/g) ( Merops orientalis). Alse mean of Cd in birds was obtaine between 1.71± 0.06 (Anas platyrhyncho) and 0.06± 0.03(μg/g) (Merops orientalis). For evaluation of effects of habitat type on level of lead and cadmium on feather, the birds studied in two groups (aquatic and terrestrial birds).The mean of Pb in aquatic and terrestrial birds were 11.94±4.95 (μg/g) and 6.81±1.03 (μg/g) respectively. A significant difference was in feather Pb concentration across aquatic and terrestrial birds.The concentration of Pb in feathers of aquatic birds was higher than terrestrial birds. The mean of Cd concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial birds was obtained 1.08±0.73 (μg/g) and 0.25±0.19 (μg/g) respectively. However Cd concentration in aquatic birds were higher than terrestrial birds, but there was no significant difference between Cd concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial birds.