Non-destructive pollution exposure assessment by means of wood mice hair.
Concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc were measured in hair, kidney, liver, lung and muscle tissue of wood mice captured along a pollution gradient. We found positive relationships between cadmium concentrations in hair and all internal tissues. Hair lead concentrations were positively correlated with lead contents in kidney and liver. Age had a significant effect on cadmium accumulation in all tissues and hair. Apart from a very weak relationship between zinc concentrations in hair and liver, no significant relation between copper or zinc content in hair and any of the internal organs was observed. In summary, our observations suggest that hair of wood mice can be used for monitoring exposure to non-essential metals like cadmium and lead, but not to homeostatically regulated metals such as copper or zinc.
Beernaert
Joke
J
Evolutionary Biology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. joke.beernaert@ua.ac.be
Scheirs
Jan
J
Leirs
Herwig
H
Blust
Ronny
R
Verhagen
Ron
R
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D051189:Murinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc