Tissue-specific bioenergetic effects and increased enzymatic activities following acute sublethal peroral exposure to cyanide in the mallard duck.

Protection of wildlife and in particular migratory birds, which are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, from cyanide waste in and around gold mining operations is an important environmental issue. We have investigated the bioenergetic effects of sublethal peroral cyanide exposure using the mallard duck (Anus platyrhynchos) as a model migratory bird. At cyanide concentrations well below levels considered safe by the mining industry and some regulatory agencies (50 ppm weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide) significant depletions of heart, liver, and brain tissue ATP levels were observed. Tissue ATP levels were restored to normal by 24 hr postexposure. Rhodanese and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase activities were determined in these tissues both for basal activity and post-cyanide exposure. Only brain tissue showed increased enzymatic activity following cyanide exposure, suggesting tissue-specific regulation of these enzymatic activities. These studies suggest that 50 ppm WAD cyanide is not a safe level of cyanide in water where avian wildlife exposure can occur.