Acute lead poisoning of the pigeon induced by single, intraperitoneal administration of lead acetate

A single dose of lead acetate (either 30 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally (i.p.) adminstered to adult feral pigeons, Columba livia var and the effects of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (CaNa2EDTA), (0, 150, 300, 600 mg/kg), administered i.p. twice a week in the ensuing period were observed. Lead acetate caused dose related mortality and decreases in weight, hematocrit and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D). Acute toxicity of lead acetate in the pigeon, when given intraperitoneally, appeared approximately equivalent to that in the rat and mouse in terms of LD50. Blood lead (blood Pb) levels observed during the lethal stage were five to ten times less than those reported for chronic oral lead poisoning in the pigeon. Biological implications of elevated levels of blood Pb observed in the feral pigeon in the urban Tokyo area are discussed. CaNa2EDTA induced dose related recovery in ALA-D in 30 mg/kg group, and reduction of blood Pb levels in the group dosed with 150 mg/kg of lead acetate.