The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of lead in blood of dogs from Polish urban polluted areas including the Lower Silesia Region (LSR; 102 dogs), KGHM Polish Copper Region (PCR; 102 dogs), and Upper Silesia Industrial Region (USIR; 102 dogs). Moreover, it was investigated whether age, height, gender, and weight influence blood lead concentrations in the dogs. The mean concentrations of lead in dogs from LSR, PCR, and USIR were 16.18 µg/L, 31.82 µg /L, and 32.53 µg /L, respectively. In the same age groups of dogs, the concentrations of lead were the smallest and significantly lower in LSR than those reported in PCR and USIR. Mean blood concentrations of lead demonstrated a decreasing tendency in regard to the height of the examined dogs -30.00 µg /L (low dogs), 27.37 µg /L (medium dogs), and 25.12 µg /L (high dogs).These findings indicate that blood lead concentrations mainly depend on lead contamination of the dogs' habitat. In all regions examined, lead concentrations significantly increased with the length of the dogs' life. Height, weight, and gender had no significant effect on lead content.
The studies, conducted between 2010 and 2012, involved 102 dogs and 505 people from Lower Silesia (LS), 104 dogs and 578 people from the Legnica -Głogów Copper Mining Region (LGCMR), and 101 dogs and 897 people from the Upper Silesian Industrial Region (USIR). A significant positive correlation between blood lead concentration (BLC) in dogs and people living in the same environment was found. Moreover, the data revealed an increase in BLC in dogs and people with the progressive aging of the body. The highest average BLC in dogs and humans were reported in the LGCMR followed by USIR and LS.
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