The study has explored two conservative biomarkers,porphyrin pattern in guano and methemoglobin levels in blood of Columba livia, in order to assay their potential use for monitoring toxic effects induced by exposure to urban air pollution. Fieldwork was conducted between October 2003 and June 2005 in the city of Milan,Italy, by sampling the pigeons in different areas almost twice a week. Six air contaminants, CO, PM10, NO2, O3,SO2, and C6H6, plus polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fine particles, temperature, and UV index, were considered. Protoporphyrins from pigeon excreta sampled outdoors were always higher than in indoor animals, particularly in winter. A positive correlation (p<0.001) of protoporphyrin with PAHs was observed. In terms of the values of methemoglobinemia, animals exposed to urban air showed significant differences from season to season but only in summer and autumn did the outdoor pigeons show higher values than indoor animals. In summer, a regression model with a positive correlation between O3 and benzene was determined (p<0.01). The use of Columba livia as a sentinel for urban air pollution as well as for detecting complex interactions between contaminants in the urban air pollutant mixture was discussed

Sicolo, M., Tringali, M., Orsi, F., Santagostino, A. (2009). Porphyrin Pattern and Methemoglobin Levels in Columba livia Applied to Assess Toxicological Risk by Air Pollutionin Urban Areas. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY, 57, 732-740 [10.1007/s00244-009-9320-0].

Porphyrin Pattern and Methemoglobin Levels in Columba livia Applied to Assess Toxicological Risk by Air Pollutionin Urban Areas

SICOLO, MATTEO PAOLO ANDREA;TRINGALI, MARIA;SANTAGOSTINO, ANGELA
2009

Abstract

The study has explored two conservative biomarkers,porphyrin pattern in guano and methemoglobin levels in blood of Columba livia, in order to assay their potential use for monitoring toxic effects induced by exposure to urban air pollution. Fieldwork was conducted between October 2003 and June 2005 in the city of Milan,Italy, by sampling the pigeons in different areas almost twice a week. Six air contaminants, CO, PM10, NO2, O3,SO2, and C6H6, plus polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fine particles, temperature, and UV index, were considered. Protoporphyrins from pigeon excreta sampled outdoors were always higher than in indoor animals, particularly in winter. A positive correlation (p<0.001) of protoporphyrin with PAHs was observed. In terms of the values of methemoglobinemia, animals exposed to urban air showed significant differences from season to season but only in summer and autumn did the outdoor pigeons show higher values than indoor animals. In summer, a regression model with a positive correlation between O3 and benzene was determined (p<0.01). The use of Columba livia as a sentinel for urban air pollution as well as for detecting complex interactions between contaminants in the urban air pollutant mixture was discussed
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Air pollution,Biomonitorig, Columba livia,Protoporphyrins, Methemogglobinemia
English
2009
57
732
740
none
Sicolo, M., Tringali, M., Orsi, F., Santagostino, A. (2009). Porphyrin Pattern and Methemoglobin Levels in Columba livia Applied to Assess Toxicological Risk by Air Pollutionin Urban Areas. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY, 57, 732-740 [10.1007/s00244-009-9320-0].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/7656
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