Quantification of heavy metal residues in fecal matter of blue rock pigeon (Columba livia) in Punjab

The present study was done to assess the heavy metal contamination in the excreta of Blue Rock Pigeon from rural areas of Punjab. This study was conceded out in three locations: Location I: Agronomy Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Location II: Cold Storage, Jalandhar Bypass and Location III: Cold Storage, Mullanpur. The results revealed that the levels of Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr) and Cadmium (Cd) were greater than normal levels in excreta of pigeon from all the three locations and for Lead (Pb) it was above the toxic level at Location II and III. Lead (Pb) levels were observed to be more than thetoxic range from both the locations. Concentrations of heavy metals were higher in locations II and III because these locations are close to road and have more industrial units than location I. Therefore, pigeons excreta can be used as bioindicator for heavy metal levels.