Metal and metalloid contamination in roadside soil and wild rats around a Pb-Zn mine in Kabwe, Zambia.
Metal (Cr, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni) and metalloid (As) accumulation was studied in roadside soil and wild rat (Rattus sp.) samples from near a Pb-Zn mine (Kabwe, Zambia) and the capital city of Zambia (Lusaka). The concentrations of the seven metals and As in the soil samples and Pb in the rat tissue samples were quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As in Kabwe soil were much higher than benchmark values. Geographic Information System analysis indicated the source of metal pollution was mining and smelting activity. Interestingly, the area south of the mine was more highly contaminated even though the prevailing wind flow was westward. Wild rats from Kabwe had much higher tissue concentrations of Pb than those from Lusaka. Their body weight and renal Pb levels were negatively correlated, which suggests that mining activity might affect terrestrial animals in Kabwe.
Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
Shouta M M
SMM
Nakayama
Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
Yoshinori
Y
Ikenaka
Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
Kyohei
K
Hamada
Department of Biomedical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Kaampwe
K
Muzandu
Department of Biomedical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Kennedy
K
Choongo
Department of Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan.
Hiroki
H
Teraoka
Department of Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan.
Naoharu
N
Mizuno
Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. Electronic address: ishizum@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
Mayumi
M
Ishizuka
D000818:Animals; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003035:Cobalt / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D058955:Metalloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008906:Mining; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015024:Zambia
D058955:Metalloids; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D003035:Cobalt; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel