Lead toxicosis is well established as an important contributor to mortalities in bald and golden eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus and Aquila chrysaetos, respectively), California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), and a variety of waterfowl. The effects of lead toxicosis may predispose birds to traumatic encounters, such as collision with power lines. Rotating wind turbine blades have caused the death of many bird species, including bald and golden eagles, when flight paths intersect wind farms. We conducted an analysis of the relationship between liver lead concentrations and mortality from collisions with wind-turbine blades (WT) in golden eagles submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory (NFWFL) from 2011 to 2016 from across the United States. During that time, 116 golden eagles were determined to have died of wind turbine blade collision and 52 were tested for lead exposure. Liver lead concentrations in our sample were compared to those from 25 golden eagles that died of other causes including electrocution, gunshot, and other trauma. Eagles that died from wind turbine blade collision had lower (P < 0.01) lead concentrations (geometric mean 0.25 ppm wet weight [ww]; median 0 ppm ww) than those with other mortality factors (geometric mean 0.65 ppm ww; median 0.42 ppm ww). Across both control (non-WT mortality) and WT groups, liver lead concentrations did not differ significantly between males and females (P = 0.95), or between adults and sub-adults (P = 0.45). The ratios of life stages and sexes in the WT group were similar to that of the broader population of golden eagles submitted to NFWFL during the same time period. Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

中文翻译：

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铅暴露与金鹰的风力涡轮机死亡率无关

铅中毒是秃鹰和金雕（分别为Haliaeetus leucocephalus和Aquila chrysaetos）、加利福尼亚秃鹰（Gymnogyps californianus）死亡的重要因素。)，以及各种水禽。铅中毒的影响可能会使鸟类容易遭受创伤，例如与电线碰撞。当飞行路径与风电场相交时，旋转的风力涡轮机叶片已导致许多鸟类死亡，包括秃鹰和金雕。我们对 2011 年至 2016 年美国各地提交给国家鱼类和野生动物法医实验室 (NFWFL) 的金雕进行了肝脏铅浓度与与风力涡轮机叶片 (WT) 碰撞死亡率之间的关系分析。在此期间，116 只金雕被确定死于风力涡轮机叶片碰撞，52 只接受了铅暴露测试。我们将样本中的肝铅浓度与 25 只死于其他原因（包括触电、枪击、和其他创伤。死于风力涡轮机叶片碰撞的老鹰的 (P  < 0.01) 铅浓度（几何平均 0.25 ppm 湿重 [ww]；中位数 0 ppm ww）比具有其他死亡率因素（几何平均 0.65 ppm ww；中位数 0.42 ppm ww）的铅浓度高。在对照组（非 WT 死亡率）和 WT 组中，男性和女性之间（P  = 0.95）或成人和亚成人之间（P  = 0.45）的肝铅浓度没有显着差异。WT 组中生命阶段和性别的比率与同期接受 NFWFL 的更广泛的金雕种群的比率相似。2021 年出版。本文为美国政府作品，在美国属于公有领域。