title: Metal and metalloid accumulation in shrews (Soricomorpha, Mammalia) from two protected Mediterranean coastal sites.
abstract: Although ecotoxicological data on heavy metals are abundant, information on other potentially toxic elements with attributed deficiency and/or toxic disturbances is scarce. Here we quantify zinc, copper, iron, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, strontium, barium, and boron in bones of greater white-toothed shrews, Crocidura russula, inhabiting two protected Mediterranean coastal sites: the Ebro Delta, a wetland impacted by human activities, and the Medas Islands, a reference site. Natural and anthropogenic inputs significantly increase Fe, Mn, Mo, Sr, Ba, and B in specimens from the Ebro Delta, whereas Cu and Cr were higher in Medas' shrews. Principal component analysis allowed complete separation between sites along the first two axes in particular due to B, Sr, and Cu. This study provides metal reference values in bones of insectivores, explores their variability and bioaccumulation patterns in depth, and assesses the potential environmental risk and toxicity for biota exposed to the above elements.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microscopia, Facultat de Ciències, Edifici C, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. Alejandro.Sanchez.Chardi@uab.cat
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Chardi
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López-Fuster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012016:Reference Values; D012788:Shrews / Q000378:metabolism*; D013030:Spain; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals