Trace elements and pollutants concentrations in shorebirds from Yeongjong Island, Korea in the East Asian-Australian migration flyways.

This study presents concentration levels of trace metals and pollutants (zinc, manganese, copper, lead, and cadmium) in tissues (livers, kidneys, muscles, and bones) of shorebirds from Yeongjong Island, Korea, in the East Asian-Australian migration flyways. Essential trace elements, zinc concentrations in kidneys, and copper concentrations in muscles significantly differed among shorebirds, but manganese concentrations did not differ in each tissue. We suggest that essential elements are within normal range and are maintained there by normal homeostatic mechanism. Lead concentrations in livers, kidneys, muscles, and bones were significantly different among shorebird species. Lead concentrations in livers of Kentish Plovers, Mongolian Plovers, Dunlins, and Great Knots were less than the toxic level, and lead concentrations in livers of Terek Sandpipers were at the background level. Cadmium concentrations in livers, kidneys, muscles, and bones did not vary among shorebirds, and concentrations of cadmium in livers and kidneys were at background level in all shorebirds. In livers of Dunlins from Yeongjong Island, lead and cadmium concentrations were higher than other locations previously reported.