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Organochlorine and Heavy-Metal Contaminants in Wild Mammals and Birds of Urbino-Pesaro Province, Italy: An Analytic Overview for Potential Bioindicators

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Abstract

Tissue samples from 56 bird and 11 mammal species of different trophic levels, collected from 1994 to 1995 from the Urbino–Pesaro area in the Marche region of central Italy, were analyzed for the presence of organochlorine compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls and p,p′-DDE) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, and Hg). Results revealed interspecies differences in pollutant residue concentrations. A clear relationship between contaminant and trophic levels emerged depending on several factors specific to the chemicals and the organisms, the importance of dietary accumulation, and metabolic capacity as it increased toward higher trophic levels. Polychlorinated biphenyls and p,p′-DDE were found in all of the bird and mammal species analyzed (bird- or fish-eating birds), and insectivore mammals showed the highest level of these contaminants. Pb and Hg residues were also widely detected and reflected trophic-level differences. The highest concentration of Pb was found in herbivorous or bird-eating aquatic invertebrates and in insectivorous mammals, particularly in the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), whereas the highest Hg levels were found in fish-eating birds. All of the other heavy metals were detected at low concentrations and represented background levels for birds and mammals, with the exception of increased amounts of Cd and Cr, respectively, found in stone marten (Martes foina) and fox (Vulpes vulpes). Data from this study provided information on baseline levels of interest to monitor status and trends in chemical residue in biota in this specific area, and therefore they represent a tool to evaluate potential ecologic, wildlife, and human health exposure.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by a grant from the joint programme Ministry of Health-Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche and by ISS- INRM project Rischio Etotossicologico in Ambiente Montano: Individuazione di Popolazioni Sentinella di Vertebrati. We thank professor Tersilio Frescura for substantial scientific help, Giovanni Dominici for technical support, and Elena de Felip for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, I-00161, Italy

    E. Alleva, N. Francia, F. Chiarotti & D. Santucci

  2. Morphological Sciences Institute, Laboratorio di Zoologia, University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy

    M. Pandolfi

  3. Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy

    A. M. De Marinis

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  1. E. Alleva
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  2. N. Francia
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  3. M. Pandolfi
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  4. A. M. De Marinis
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  5. F. Chiarotti
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  6. D. Santucci
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Correspondence to D. Santucci.

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Alleva, E., Francia, N., Pandolfi, M. et al. Organochlorine and Heavy-Metal Contaminants in Wild Mammals and Birds of Urbino-Pesaro Province, Italy: An Analytic Overview for Potential Bioindicators. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 51, 123–134 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-005-0218-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-005-0218-1

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