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Trace Elements in Tissues of Wild Carnivores and Omnivores in Croatia

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Abstract

The differences in metal exposure (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg) in the muscle, liver and kidney tissues of brown bears (Ursus arctos), grey wolfs (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynxs (Lynx lynx), Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and pine martens (Martes martes) from Croatia were observed. The highest mean Cd levels were found in kidney and liver of Eurasian badger (3.05 and 0.537 mg/kg). The highest Cu concentrations (mg/kg) measured in liver tissue were obtained in order: Eurasian badger (15.2) > brown bear (12.1) > pine marten (10.3) > Eurasian lynx (8.43) > grey wolf (6.44). Result presented that Eurasian badger accumulated the highest levels of elements: As, Cu and Pb in muscle; As, Cd, Cu and Pb in liver; Cd and Pb in kidney. Kidney of pine marten accumulated the highest concentrations of As, Cu and Hg. Omnivorous species observed present an important bioindicator for the accumulation of toxic elements indicating an enhanced vulnerability for response to ecological changes in forested terrain. Generally, element concentrations found in five species observed were lower in comparison to levels reported in previous studies and below levels related to toxicosis in mammals.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to all those who contributed to the study. Special thanks go to Marijana Fluka and Mirjana Hren for assistance in sample preparation. The study was supported with a grant from the Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Public Health, Laboratory for Residue Control, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Nina Bilandžić, Marija Sedak & Maja Đokić

  2. Department of Pathological Morphology, Laboratory for General Pathology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Danko Dežđek

  3. Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Branimir Šimić

  4. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzlova 55, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Nevenka Rudan

  5. General Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Mate Brstilo

  6. Veterinary Directorate, Division of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Miramarska 24, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Tea Lisicin

Authors
  1. Nina Bilandžić
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  2. Danko Dežđek
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  3. Marija Sedak
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  4. Maja Đokić
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  5. Branimir Šimić
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  6. Nevenka Rudan
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  7. Mate Brstilo
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  8. Tea Lisicin
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Correspondence to Nina Bilandžić.

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Bilandžić, N., Dežđek, D., Sedak, M. et al. Trace Elements in Tissues of Wild Carnivores and Omnivores in Croatia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88, 94–99 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0449-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0449-y

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