Essential, toxic and potentially toxic elements in White Storks' blood

This dataset contains trace element concentration data measured in whole blood samples from 189 live white storks (Ciconia ciconia) captured in central Spain. Sampling took place across several municipalities in the Madrid region as part of a biomonitoring program aimed at assessing environmental contamination in avian wildlife.

Each row corresponds to an individual bird and includes biological and health-related information such as age (chick or adult), body condition, and the presence or absence of trauma or foreign bodies. A total of 52 chemical elements were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), covering both essential (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) and non-essential or toxic elements (e.g., Pb, Cd, Hg, As), along with several rare earth and trace elements. Results are expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), equivalent to micrograms per liter (µg/L), based on wet weight concentrations in whole blood.

Variables in the dataset include:

Reference: unique sample identifier

Species: white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Municipality: location of capture

Age: classified as chick or adult

Body condition: qualitative status (e.g., average, thin)

Health indicators: including trauma and foreign body presence

Elemental concentrations: 52 variables in ng/mL for a wide panel of trace elements

This dataset offers a unique insight into the internal exposure of free-ranging storks to environmental pollutants in urban and peri-urban settings. It may serve as a reference for ecotoxicological studies, risk assessment, and conservation strategies focused on large avian species in human-dominated landscapes.