Accumulation of trace elements used in semiconductor industry in Formosan squirrel, as a bio-indicator of their exposure, living in Taiwan.
Concentrations of 17 trace elements were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in Formosan squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus) of Taiwan and Japan to document trace element pollution in Taiwan. High concentrations of elements used to produce semiconductors - Ga, As, Cd, In and Tl - were found in animals captured in Miaoli County, which is the nearest site to Hsinchu City, a chief city of Taiwan's semiconductor industry. Significant correlations between Ga, As, In and Tl were found in the kidney, liver, lung and muscle tissues of Taiwanese squirrels. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that Ga, As, In and Tl were of the same clade, indicating that Ga, As, In and Tl were discharged from an identical origin. Molar ratios of Ga/As concentration in lungs of animals captured in Miaoli resembled those of animals after intratracheal administration of particulate gallium arsenide (GaAs). This result might indicate that the higher concentrations of Ga and As in the specimens in Miaoli resulted from atmospheric exposure to GaAs.
Suzuki
Yoshinari
Y
United Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu 183-8509, Japan.
Watanabe
Izumi
I
Oshida
Tatsuo
T
Chen
Yen-Jean
YJ
Lin
Liang-Kong
LK
Wang
Yu-Huang
YH
Yang
Kouh-Cheng
KC
Kuno
Katsuji
K
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005843:Geography; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012666:Semiconductors; D013624:Taiwan; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D007220:Industrial Waste; D014131:Trace Elements