Poisoning by ingestion of lead ammunition in wild birds in Spain and measures taken to reduce this risk

La intoxicación por ingestión de munición de plomo en aves silvestres es conocida en España desde finales del siglo pasado. Elevadas densidades de perdigones de plomo en diversos humedales de importancia internacional producen tasas de ingestión de perdigones cercanas al 70% en especies como el ánade rabudo (Anas acuta) y el plumbismo llega a ser una de las principales causas de mortalidad de la amenazada malvasía cabeciblanca (Oxyura leucocephala). El plumbismo también ha sido descrito en diversas especies de aves rapaces y se ha comprobado que la exposición al plomo es elevada en las especies más carroñeras y oportunistas. La contaminación de la carne de caza también ha sido objeto de estudio, debido a que en España se da la particularidad de cocinarla en escabeche, lo que incrementa la transferencia de plomo de la munición a la carne. Por el momento, la única acción llevada a cabo para reducir el riesgo de exposición al plomo de la munición en aves y humanos ha sido la prohibición desde 2001 del uso de perdigones de plomo en humedales protegidos. En esta revisión se hace un repaso a los estudios llevados a cabo en España sobre la contaminación por el plomo de la munición y el efecto que están teniendo las medidas hasta el momento adoptadas para reducir este riesgo.Poisoning by ingestion of lead ammunition in wild birds is known in Spain since the end of the last century. High densities of lead shot in various internationally important wetlands produce pellet ingestion rates close to 70% in species such as the northern pintail (Anas acuta) and lead poisoning becomes a major cause of mortality of the endangered white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala). Lead poisoning has also been described in several species of birds of prey, mainly scavengers. The contamination of game meat has also been studied, because in Spain it is usually cooked with vinegar, increasing the transfer of lead from ammunition to meat. For now, the only action taken to reduce the risk of exposure to lead from ammunition in birds and humans has been the banning since 2001 of lead shot in protected wetlands. Here, we review the studies carried out in Spain on lead contamination caused by the ammunition and the effect of the measures taken to reduce this risk.Esta revisión se enmarca dentro del proyecto financiado por el MICINN con referencia CGL2010-17030/BOS

Integrating adverse effects of triazole fungicides on reproduction and physiology of farmland birds

The extensive use of pesticides has been recognized as one of the major factors negatively impacting birds in agricultural habitats. One of the pesticide groups most used worldwide are triazole fungicides due to their effectiveness in controlling phytopathogenic fungi in cereals, vineyards and orchards. In the last decades, different experimental studies have reported important negative effects on the health and fitness of birds after exposure to triazoles. Birds can be exposed throughout the year through different routes, including oral uptake, dermal contact with treated surfaces and inhalation by overspray. Yet, the ingestion of treated or sprayed material is the principal route. The most alarming effect of triazoles, which can even occur several months after cessation of the exposure, is the decreasing reproductive outputs of birds, including delay in the onset of laying dates, reduced clutch size and hatching rate, and increased mortality of chicks. In order to synthesize the data and knowledge about the toxic effects of triazoles at different levels of biological organization, here we propose an dverse outcome pathway (AOP) on the mechanisms by which triazoles can affect avian reproduction and physiology. The reported effects highlight that the current risk assessment needs some improvements to avoid undesired effects on birds, especially long-term effects that can influence stability and viability of avian populations from agricultural habitats.– This study was funded by project PID2020-119767RB-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. JJP was supported by a requalification grant of the Spanish university system for 2021–2023 (“Margarita Salas”) code MSALAS-2022-22391. CSC was supported by a grant from the Spanish university system code FPU20/03107.Peer reviewe