Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

D J Hutchinson; E M Jones; J M Pay; J R Clarke; M T Lohr; J O Hampton

doi:10.1111/avj.13252

Back

Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

D J Hutchinson, E M Jones, J M Pay, J R Clarke, M T Lohr and J O Hampton

Australian veterinary journal, Vol.101(8), pp.313-319

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13252

PMID: 37311719

Files and links (1)

pdf

Published1.29 MBDownload View

CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

toxicology

trace elements

animal welfare

wildlife

There is a growing recognition of the harmful effects of lead exposure on avian and mammalian scavengers. This can lead to both lethal and non-lethal effects which may negatively impact wildlife populations. Our objective was to assess medium-term lead exposure in wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Frozen liver samples (n = 41), opportunistically collected in 2017-2022, were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine liver lead concentrations. These results were then used to calculate the proportion of animals with elevated lead levels (>5 mg/kg dry weight) and examine the role of explanatory variables that may have influenced the results. The majority of samples analysed were from the south-east corner of Tasmania, within 50 km of Hobart. No Tasmanian devil samples were found to have elevated lead levels. The median liver lead concentration was 0.17 mg/kg (range 0.05-1.32 mg/kg). Female devils were found to have significantly higher liver lead concentrations than males (P = 0.013), which was likely related to lactation, but other variables (age, location, body mass) were not significant. These results suggest that wild Tasmanian devil populations currently show minimal medium-term evidence of exposure to lead pollution, although samples were concentrated in peri-urban areas. The results provide a baseline level which can be used to assess the impact of any future changes in lead use in Tasmania. Furthermore, these data can be used as a comparison for lead exposure studies in other mammalian scavengers, including other carnivorous marsupial species.

Details

Title: Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species
Authors/Creators: D J Hutchinson - The University of Melbourne
E M Jones - University of Tasmania
J M Pay - University of Tasmania
J R Clarke - Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
M T Lohr - Edith Cowan University
J O Hampton - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Publication Details: Australian veterinary journal, Vol.101(8), pp.313-319
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association
Grant note: University of Melbourne
Identifiers: 991005587770007891
Copyright: © 2023 The Authors.
Murdoch Affiliation: Harry Butler Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Metrics

4 File views/ downloads

45 Record Views

4 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.91 Contamination & Phytoremediation; 3.91.644 Mercury Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science