title: Accumulation of trace elements used in semiconductor industry in Formosan squirrel, as a bio-indicator of their exposure, living in Taiwan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: United Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu 183-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshida
authors.forename: Yen-Jean
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liang-Kong
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Huang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kouh-Cheng
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuno
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D014131:Trace Elements