Spatial Analysis of Lead Contamination in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) from Different Urban Areas in Meknes, Morocco

This study investigates lead (Pb) contamination in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) across different urban areas in Meknes, Morocco, highlighting the effects of human activities. House sparrows, used as bioindicators, were collected from high-traffic, industrial, and rural sites. Pb concentrations in various organs, particularly in bone, revealed elevated levels in urban areas, with a mean bone concentration of 11.42 µg/g at the town centre (TC). Statistical analyses (ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests) showed significant contamination differences across locations, indicating greater Pb exposure in urban sparrows compared to rural ones. To enhance understanding of contamination distribution, spatial analysis using kriging identified high-Pb areas, marking urban centres as contamination hotspots. These findings underscore the impact of urban pollution sources on biodiversity and provide essential data for developing effective pollution management and public health strategies in urban settings.