Springer - Mammals and Birds as Bioindicators Book

Explore the complex relationship between environmental pollution and wildlife in this scientific assessment from Springer. As the global population has grown since the 1960s, the quality of air, water, and soil has faced significant challenges due to the presence of essential and toxic trace elements. This book examines the impact of anthropogenic Hg and Cd, which led to numerous poisonings of humans and animals during the 20th century. While abiotic monitoring systems exist in many developed countries, they often struggle to account for the risks associated with long-term exposure to low concentrations of various substances. These substances are frequently ingested through food and water, making biological monitoring a necessity. By focusing on mammals and birds as bioindicators, this text provides an ecotoxicological assessment of terrestrial environments across the Northern Hemisphere. It addresses the need for better monitoring strategies to understand how trace element contamination moves through the food chain and affects living organisms.