Comparison of white-footed mice and rice rats as biomonitors of polychlorinated biphenyl and metal contamination.
A study was conducted to assess differences in contaminant assimilation among co-occurring white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and rice rats (Oryomys palustris) captured at a contaminated site. Rodents were collected from five areas at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a uranium enrichment facility. Relatively few white-footed mice (8.7%) had quantifiable concentrations of PCBs compared to 42% of rice rats (chi2 = 6.49, d.f. = 1, P < 0.025), and seven of the 11 rice rats (64%) over 50 g body mass had quantifiable concentrations of PCBs in their livers. White-footed mice had higher mean concentrations of barium (P < 0.0001), chromium (P = 0.0010), copper (P = 0.0011), lead (P = 0.0335), and aluminum (P = 0.0006) than rice rats at all five sampling areas. Species-specific differences in accumulation of PCBs and metals were observed and attributed to differences in habitat use and foraging strategies.
Smith
Philip N
PN
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University/Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79409-1163, USA. phil.smith@ttu.edu
Cobb
George P
GP
Harper
Frances M
FM
Adair
Blakely M
BM
McMurry
Scott T
ST
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls