Heavy Metals in Brown Bears from the Central European Carpathians

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal load in the brown bear (Ursus arctos) living in the central European Carpathians. Between 2002 and 2004, fifteen bears were examined to evaluate the distribution of cadmium, lead, mercury and copper in the animals' muscles (diaphragm), spleen, liver and kidney. The highest content of cadmium, lead and mercury was found in the kidney (17.4 ± 5.2 mg·kg -1 , 1.16 ± 0.39 mg·kg -1 , 0.39 ± 0.25 mg·kg -1 ), whereas the lowest content of the metals was observed in the muscles (0.017 ± 0.009 mg·kg -1 , 0.299 ± 0.308 mg·kg -1 , 0.013 ± 0.011 mg·kg -1 ). Second highest concentration of cadmium, lead and mercury was detected in the liver (0.83 ± 0.24 mg·kg -1 , 0.99 ± 0.61mg·kg -1 , 0.11 ± 0.05 mg·kg -1 ). Copper distributions and concentrations in bear tissues were as follows (in descending order): liver (23.9 ± 6.7 mg·kg -1 ), > kidneys (9.0 ± 3.3 mg·kg -1 ), > muscles (1.9 ± 1.6 mg·kg -1 ) and > spleen (1.0 ± 0.2 mg·kg -1 ). As compared with heavy metal load observed in bear tissues between 1988 and 1990, the concentration of cadmium in the muscles and liver was significantly lower (p < 0.01). On the contrary, mercury values were significantly higher in the liver (p < 0.05), kidney and muscle (p < 0.01). Lead and copper tissue concentrations did not change substantially.

Selenium in brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Croatia: Relation to cadmium and mercury

“…Also, all of the bears had much lower liver levels than the ones indicative of hepatic lesions in terrestrial mammals (>7 mg/g wet mass). [1] Cadmium Mean Cd concentrations in the muscles measured in this study were somewhat higher than the values found previously in two Croatian bears, [29] and brown bears from the Low Tatras, Slovakia, [20] but lower than those in bears from the Western Carpathian, Slovakia, [21] and Karelia, Russia. [18] Liver Cd concentration was comparable to the before mentioned reports, except for the much lower level reported for two brown bears from Croatia (0.347 mg/g wet mass) [29] probably due to the small sample size.…”

“…[16,17] Several published studies covered only the Carpathian and north-eastern Europe populations with a relatively small number of investigated bears (N D 15-20). [18][19][20] The exception was a study done by Zilin c ar et al [21] where 112 brown bears were sampled. The only report of Se in brown bears came from the measurements of three Asian animals, specifically from the Khabarovsk territory (east Russia).…”

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification of Mercury through Food Webs

“…However, because baseline concentrations were so low, concentrations in the top predator (lynx) were low. Similarly, top predator brown bears also had low concentrations in central Europe (0.01 μg/g, Celechovska et al, 2006).…”

In vitrotoxicity of mercuric chloride on rabbit spermatozoa motility and cell membrane integrity

“…Soil, air and water analyses alone are inadequate for the assessment of the availability and potential toxicity of contaminants to humans and wildlife. [7,11] This is why the in vitro studies involving live animal tissues are of significance, and among them the quality parameters of spermatozoa assume considerable importance in this regard.…”