Concentrations of eight trace elements: four non-essential TEs (As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) and four essential TEs (Cu, Fe, Se, and Zn) were analyzed in liver samples from 122 individuals archived in the Swiss national health surveillance program.
L. Bedouet, M.-P. Ryser-Degiorgis, S. Borel, C. Amiot, E. Afonso and M. Coeurdassier, Evaluating trace elements as a conservation concern for Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Switzerland. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 298, 118300 (2025). doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118300.
To assess how much facultative and obligate avian scavengers suffer lead contamination in southcentral Europe, between 2005 and 2019 595 tissue samples from 252 carcasses of four species (golden eagle, bearded vulture, griffon vulture, cinereous vulture) were collected and analysed across Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria, from the French Pyrenees and Massif Central to eastern Austria through the entire Alpine chain, including the Apennines and Sicily in the south.
E. Bassi, R. Facoetti, M. Ferloni, A. Pastorino, A. Bianchi, G. Fedrizzi, I. Bertoletti and A. Andreotti, Lead contamination in tissues of large avian scavengers in south-central Europe. Science of the Total Environment, 778, 146130 (2021). doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146130.
Lead burdens in the two alpine avian scavengers (golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos and bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus) were found to reach values all over the Swiss Alps higher than found elsewhere in Europe or North America for the same species and reached levels compatible with acute poisoning.
K. Ganz, L. Jenni, M.M. Madry, T. Kraemer, H. Jenny and D. Jenny, Acute and chronic lead exposure in four avian scavenger species in Switzerland. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 75, 566-575 (2018). doi: 10.1007/s00244-018-0561-7.
Using field lysimeter experiments, Sb, Pb, Cu and Zn uptake by four common pasture plant species (Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens, Plantago lanceolata and Rumex obtusifolius) growing on a calcareous shooting range soil under waterlogged and drained conditions were compared.
K. Hockmann, S. Tandy, B. Studer, M.W.H. Evangelou and R. Schulin, Plant uptake and availability of antimony, lead, copper and zinc in oxic and reduced shooting range soil. Environmental Pollution, 238, 255–262 (2018). doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.014.
Following the finding of three golden eagles in the Swiss Alps with an acute lead poisoning, body burdens in golden eagles from Switzerland in comparison to eagle owls from the same area and to their respective prey were studied. Lead levels in soft tissues were significantly higher in golden eagles than in eagle owls. Most golden eagles take up lead from spent ammunition in carcasses or their offal in sublethal quantities throughout their life and a few in lethal quantities leading to acute lead poisoning.
M.M. Madry, T. Kraemer, J. Kupper, H. Naegeli, H. Jenny, L. Jenni and D. Jenny, Excessive lead burden among golden eagles in the Swiss Alps. Environmental Research Letters, 10, 034003 (2015). doi:10.1088/1748-9326/10/3/034003
The level and frequency distribution of lead concentration in different tissues and in three segments of flight feathers in 41 golden eagles found dead, injured or moribund in the Swiss Alps were analyzed. Findings in this study indicate an episodic intake of lead that may be immediately fatal (generating high blood levels) or sublethal intake. The patterns of lead in flight feathers and in bone suggest a repeated sublethal lead in-take by the same individual. Such an episodic lead uptake seems only possible through ingestion of lead particles from carcasses or offal left behind by hunters.
L. Jenni, M. M. Madry, T. Kraemer, J. Kupper, H. Naegeli, H. Jenny and D. Jenny, The frequency distribution of lead concentration in feathers, blood, bone, kidney and liver of golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos: insights into the modes of uptake. Journal of Ornithology, 156, 1095–1103 (2015). doi:10.1007/s10336-015-1220-7
Study on the uptake of Sb, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in the aboveground biomass of nine plant species growing on a calcareous (Chur) and a weakly acidic (Losone) military shooting range soil in order to assess if grazing would be safe to employ on decommissioned military shooting ranges.
M.W.H. Evangelou, K. Hockmann, R. Pokharel, A. Jakob and R. Schulin, Accumulation of Sb, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd by various plants species on two different relocated military shooting range soils. Journal of Environmental Management, 108, 102–107 (2012). doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.04.044.
Lead poisoning and organ levels of the nonessential heavy metals lead, cadmium and mercury of seven free-ranging golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) from the European Alps, and of one 23-year-old captive golden eagle are reported.
N. Kenntner, Y. Crettenand and H.-J. Fünfstück, M. Janovsky and F. Tataruch, Lead poisoning and heavy metal exposure of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) from the European Alps. Journal of Ornithology, 148, 173–177 (2007). doi:10.1007/s10336-006-0115-z.
Leek (Allium porrum) were grown in soils of two shooting ranges heavily contaminated with heavy metals (among them, lead) in the towns of Zuchwil (canton Solothurn) and Oberuzwil (canton St. Gallen) in Switzerland as a bioassay to test the activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in these soils.
A. Mozafar, R. Ruh, P. Klingel, H. Gamper, S. Egli and E. Frossard, Effect of heavy metal contaminated shooting range soils on mycorrhizal colonization of roots and metal uptake by leek. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 79, 177–191 (2002). doi:10.1023/a:1020202801163.
The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) in foxes from urban, suburban, and rural areas within the municipality of Zürich (Switzerland). The kidney and liver of urban foxes contained the highest Pb levels.
R. Dip, C. Stieger, P. Deplazes, D. Hegglin, U. Müller, O. Dafflon, H. Koch, H. Naegeli, Comparison of heavy metal concentrations in tissues of red foxes from adjacent urban, suburban, and rural areas. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 40, 551–556 (2001). doi:10.1007/s002440010209.