Effects of toxic elements on plasma vitamin levels in nestling Eagle owls (Bubo bubo)

Póster presentado al SETAC Europe 31st Annual Meeting, celebrado de forma virtual del 3 al 6 de mayo de 2021.Vitamins and carotenoids play essential roles in nestling growth and proper development, and are known to be affected by toxic metals. The main goal of this communication is to present how element exposure affects plasma vitamin and carotenoid levels in nestling Eagle owls (Bubo bubo) inhabiting three different scenarios of pollution (mining, industrial and control areas) in southeastern Spain. Our results show that local contamination in the mining area contributes to increased blood concentrations of Pb, As and Tl in nestlings, while diet differences between control and mining/industrial areas may account for the different levels of Mn, Zn, and Sr in blood, and lutein in plasma. Plasma tocopherol levels were increased in the mining-impacted environment, which may be a mechanism of protection to prevent toxic-element-related oxidative stress. Plasma α-tocopherol was enhanced by 20 and 56% at blood Pb concentrations ≥8 ng/mL and ≥170 ng/mL, respectively. Tocopherol seems to be a sensitive biomarker under an exposure to certain toxic elements (e.g. Pb, As, Tl).Funding was provided by Fundación Séneca(20031/SF/16) and University of Castilla-La Mancha (CGT13-0183). S. Espín was supported by Fundación Séneca(20031/SF/16) and by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (IJCI-2017-34653). P. R. Camarero benefited from a contract financed by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation and CSIC (PTA2017-14583-I).Peer reviewe