Assessment of Heavy Metal Residues in Excreta of Rock Pigeon (Columba Livia) and Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia Domestica) in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Pollution is the main cause that effects the environment in a degradable condition. For the presence of heavy metals in the atmosphere birds are considered as tremendous bio indicator. Blue pigeon and domestic pigeon (Coloumba livia) of Faisalabad are selected to examine the level of heavy metals including Manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), lead (Pb) cadmium (Cd) and Copper (Cu) in several tissues such as (heart, lungs, bones, muscles and feathers. Six adult birds were collected rural, urban and residential and traffic areas of Faisalabad. After collection of sample fresh weight will be measured of each sample, then digestion of sample was done by conventional acid digestion method and digested samples were analyzed in the lab by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for the determination of heavy metals.  It was concluded that accumulation of heavy metals in the birds depends upon the environmental conditions. Our result showed that concentration of heavy metals more in rock pigeon as compared to domestic pigeon which may be due to more exposure of industrial waste to rock pigeon. It has inferred from our study that high concentration of heavy metals in the excreta of rock pigeon was due to its high trophic level in food chain.