Air Quality Criteria for Lead Volume II of II - (NEPIS)(EPA) - US ...

death in field, captive, and/or experimental cases of Pb poisoning. The tissue Pb levels
associated with these levels of effects are presented in Table AX7-1.2.1.
Table AX7-1.2.1. Tissue Lead Levels in Birds Causing Effects
(taken from Franson, 1996)
Blood
Liver
Kidney
Order
Falconiformes
(µg/dL)
(ppm wet wt.) (ppm wet wt.)
Subclinical 0.2 – 1.5 2 – 4 2 – 5
Toxic >1 >3 >3
Compatible with death
Columbiformes
>5 >5 >5
Subclinical 0.2 – 2.5 2 – 6 2 – 20
Toxic >2 >6 >15
Compatible with death
Galliformes
>10 >20 >40
Subclinical 0.2 – 3 2 – 6 2 – 20
Toxic >5 >6 >15
Compatible with death >10 >15 >50
Tissue residue levels below the subclinical levels in Table AX7-1.2.1 should be
considered “background” (Franson, 1996). Levels in the subclinical range are indicative of
potential injury from which the bird would probably recover if Pb exposure was terminated.
Toxic residues could lead to death. Residues above the compatible-with-death threshold are
consistent with Pb-poisoning mortality (Franson, 1996). Additional information on residue
levels for Passeriformes (e.g., sparrows, starlings, robins, cowbirds), Charadriiformes (e.g., gulls,
terns), Gruiformes (e.g., cranes), Ciconiformes (e.g., egrets), Gaviformes (e.g., loons), and
Strigiformes (e.g., owls) is available in Franson (1996). Scheuhammer (1989) found blood Pb
concentrations of between 0.18 and 0.65 µg/mL in mallards corresponded to conditions
associated with greater than normal exposure to Pb but that should not be considered Pb
poisoning.
AX7-43