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Metals Distribution and Interactions in Tissues of Shrews ( Sorex spp.) from Copper‐ and Zinc‐Contaminated Areas in Poland
Author(s) -
ŚwiergoszKowalewska R.,
Gramatyka M.,
Reczyński W.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2004.0167
Subject(s) - sorex , zinc , copper , shrew , distribution (mathematics) , contamination , environmental chemistry , heavy metals , biology , ecology , chemistry , metallurgy , mathematics , materials science , mathematical analysis
To assess the risk from heavy metal accumulation to insectivorous species exposed to different pollutants, shrews [ Sorex araneus (Linnaeus 1758) and Sorex minutus (Linnaeus 1766)] were collected in the Olkuski Ore Region (OOR; a Zn and Cd smelter area), Legnicko–Głogowski Copper Mine Region (LGCR; a copper ore‐mining area), and Białowieża Forest (BF; a control area). A few sites were chosen in each region and a total of 57 animals were collected from them. The liver and kidneys were dissected from the animals, dried, and digested in a 4:1 mixture of HNO 3 (nitric acid) and HClO 4 (perchloric acid). Cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and iron were determined in the samples by flame or flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The interactions between toxic and essential metals were calculated for each tissue. The data showed that accumulation of metals by insectivores is high; shrews accumulated much higher amounts of cadmium and lead than bank voles, studied by other researchers, from the same areas. The expected high tissue accumulation of copper at LGCR and zinc at OOR was not seen, but the levels of both elements were higher in the tissues of shrews from OOR than from LGCR. The lowest copper concentrations were in the tissues of shrews from BF. The highest cadmium and lead concentrations were found in the tissues of shrews from OOR. Some significant correlations were found between the tissue concentrations of xenobiotic and essential metals (e.g., between cadmium and zinc and between lead and iron).