title: Beavers indicate metal pollution away from industrial centers in northeastern Poland.
abstract: Heavy metals are persistent environmental contaminants, and wild animals are increasingly exposed to the harmful effects of compounds of anthropogenic origin, even in areas distant from industrial centers. We used atomic absorption spectrometry to determine levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in liver and kidney of wild Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) in Poland. Cd concentrations in liver (0.21 ± 0.44 μg/g) and in kidney (2.81 ± 4.52 μg/g) were lower in juvenile than in adult beavers. Pb concentrations in liver (0.08 ± 0.03 μg/g) and kidney (0.08 ± 0.03 μg/g) were similar among all individuals, while both Cu and Zn levels were higher in liver (Cu 9.2 ± 4.5 μg/g; Zn 35.7 ± 3.5 μg/g) than in kidney (Cu 3.7 ± 1.1 μg/g; Zn 21.5 ± 2.7 μg/g). Cu levels also differed between juveniles and adults. We reviewed the literature reporting metal concentrations in beavers. Our results indicate metal contamination in beavers away from important industrial emission sources and suggest the natural environment should be regularly monitored to ensure their levels are below recommended, legal values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-957, Olsztyn, Poland, aleksandra.gizejewska@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giżejewska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spodniewska
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barski
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fattebert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007221:Industry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D012377:Rodentia; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc