Using of black kite (Milvus migrans) as a biological indicator of heavy metals in landfills (Case study: the northern of Iran)

Heavy metals are dangerous for living organisms and are causing many problems. These metals can enter the food chain in different ways and cause severe illness and sometimes fatal, so it is crucial to monitor the pollution of heavy metals. Among the human various sources of landfills, where the possibility of heavy metals in them are great, and these elements are then absorbed through the food chain, monitoring of these elements is essential in these areas seems. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of toxic metals contamination in landfill Angeli Si of Babol city using bird feathers and leachate. Therefore, to achieve this objective in the study area, a feathers of black kite birds, because food diet and Gathering place, with leachate to measurement heavy metals concentration, were sampled and prepared. The metals concentration was determined using the ICP instrument and Mercury Analyzer AMA 254 for Hg. The results showed that Cd and Hg have the concentration highest (11.5 mg/kg) and lowest (4 mg/kg) respectively in bird feathers. General the pattern of heavy elements distribution in the bird, are the following: Cd> Pb> As> Hg.