title: Toxic and essential metal concentrations in four tissues of red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Baranja, Croatia.
abstract: Kidney (n = 297), liver (n = 52), jawbone (n = 80) and muscle (n = 48) samples collected from red deer (Cervus elaphus) from north-eastern Croatia in the 2002--05 hunting season were analysed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) using atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical evaluation of results showed age-related accumulations of renal cortex Cd and Zn, bone Pb, and muscle Zn. Renal cortex Cd and Zn were significantly associated. In addition, concentrations of Cd and Pb in muscle tissue were significantly correlated with Fe content. Found levels of toxic metals were not likely to affect the health status of animals. A total of 49% of the muscle, 60% of the kidney and 6% of the liver samples were unsuitable for human consumption according to Croatian regulations for Cd in food. However, the calculated intake of Cd through deer meat consumption is small and represents no health risk when consumption is moderate.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10001 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orct
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanusa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vickovic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sostarić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D017523:Croatia; D003670:Deer; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007568:Jaw / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc