Cadmium accumulation in urban sparrows ( <i>Passer domesticus</i> ): assessing the impact of high-traffic industrial areas in Meknes Morocco
Youssef Haddadi, Abdelkader Chahlaoui, Aziz Taouraout, Abdelkhalek Belkhiri, Youssef Ouballouk
Abstract
This study investigated cadmium in urban sparrows from various Meknes zones with differing industrial and traffic intensities, compared to a rural site. Forty sparrows from industrial regions and ten from rural were analysed post-capture. Cadmium extraction used acid mineralisation, quantified via ICP. Findings revealed higher cadmium in sparrows’ kidneys from industrial zones than the rural site, with an average of 1.25 µg/g wet weight, indicating urban and industrial impacts on metal accumulation. The kidneys showed notable vulnerability to cadmium. Statistical data highlighted significant concentration differences between zones. This research emphasises the need for environmental monitoring and pollution strategies in urban areas for safeguarding health.