title: Blood parameters as biomarkers of cadmium and lead exposure and effects in wild wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) living along a pollution gradient.
abstract: Small mammal populations living on contaminated sites are exposed to various chemicals. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), two well-known nonessential trace metals, accumulate in different organs and are known to cause multiple adverse effects. To develop nonlethal markers in ecotoxicology, the present work aimed to study the relationships between blood parameters (hematocrit, leukocyte levels and granulated erythrocyte levels) and Cd and Pb concentrations in the soil and in the liver and kidneys of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Individuals were trapped along a pollution gradient with high levels of Cd, Pb and zinc (Zn) contamination. The results indicated that hematological parameters were independent of individual characteristics (age and gender). Blood parameters varied along the pollution gradient, following a pattern similar to the accumulation of Cd in the organs of the wood mice. No relationship was found between the blood parameters studied and Pb concentrations in the organs or in the environment. The hematocrit and leukocyte number decreased with increasing concentrations of Cd in the kidneys and/or in the liver. Moreover, the hematocrit was lower in the animals that were above the thresholds (LOAELs) for Cd concentrations in the liver. These responses were interpreted as a warning of potential negative effects of Cd exposure on the oxygen transport capacity of the blood (e.g., anemia). The present results suggest that blood parameters, notably hematocrit, may offer a minimally invasive biomarker for the evaluation of Cd exposure in further ecotoxicological studies.
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS Usc INRA, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France. Electronic address: nicolas.tete@univ-fcomte.fr.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tête
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS Usc INRA, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS Usc INRA, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouguerra
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS Usc INRA, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheifler
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051189:Murinae / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Hematology; Nonlethal approach; Persistent pollution; Risk to wildlife; Trace metal