Essential, toxic and potentially toxic elements in White Storks' blood
Description
This dataset contains trace element concentration data measured in whole blood samples from 189 live white storks (Ciconia ciconia) captured in central Spain. Sampling took place across several municipalities in the Madrid region as part of a biomonitoring program aimed at assessing environmental contamination in avian wildlife. Each row corresponds to an individual bird and includes biological and health-related information such as age (chick or adult), body condition, and the presence or absence of trauma or foreign bodies. A total of 52 chemical elements were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), covering both essential (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) and non-essential or toxic elements (e.g., Pb, Cd, Hg, As), along with several rare earth and trace elements. Results are expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), equivalent to micrograms per liter (µg/L), based on wet weight concentrations in whole blood. Variables in the dataset include: Reference: unique sample identifier Species: white stork (Ciconia ciconia) Municipality: location of capture Age: classified as chick or adult Body condition: qualitative status (e.g., average, thin) Health indicators: including trauma and foreign body presence Elemental concentrations: 52 variables in ng/mL for a wide panel of trace elements This dataset offers a unique insight into the internal exposure of free-ranging storks to environmental pollutants in urban and peri-urban settings. It may serve as a reference for ecotoxicological studies, risk assessment, and conservation strategies focused on large avian species in human-dominated landscapes.
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Blood samples were collected from 189 free-ranging white storks (Ciconia ciconia) admitted to the GREFA wildlife rehabilitation center in the Madrid region (central Spain) between January 2020 and December 2021. The individuals included nestlings, fledglings, and adults from urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, representing a broad gradient of anthropogenic influence. Each bird underwent a standardized clinical examination to assess body condition, presence of trauma, and general health status. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein using sterile 23G needles and syringes. Samples were immediately transferred to EDTA tubes for hematological and trace element analysis. For elemental quantification, whole blood samples were digested using a Milestone Ethos Up microwave digestion system. Two 250 mg aliquots were processed in duplicate with 1.25 mL of 65% nitric acid and 3.5 mL of Milli-Q water under a four-step digestion program (max 200°C, 1800 W, total 25 min). Digests were diluted to 7.5 mL with Milli-Q water and spiked with an internal standard mix (Sc, Ge, Rh, Ir). Trace elements were quantified using an Agilent 7900 ICP-MS system, operating in helium mode with UHMI and Octopole Reaction System (ORS4) for interference removal. Two 10-point calibration curves (0.005–20 ng/mL) were prepared: one from a commercial multi-element standard (CPA Chem) and one custom mix for REEs. The system was optimized with a tuning solution (Cs, Co, Li, Mg, Tl, Y), and quantification was performed with MassHunter v4.2 software. A total of 41 elements were measured, including essential nutrients (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu), toxic elements (Pb, Cd, Hg, As), priority pollutants (ATSDR list), and rare earth elements (REEs). Method validation included recovery (87–128%), precision (RSD <8% at most concentrations), and linearity (R² >0.998). LOQs were calculated from 20 blanks. Data analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism v10.0. Normality was tested with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Parametric or non-parametric statistics were applied accordingly (e.g., Student’s t-test, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis). For values below LOQ, single imputation was applied. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. This protocol provides reproducible conditions for trace element biomonitoring in avian blood using ICP-MS.
Institutions
- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria