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Zábojníková L. Seasonal and age-dependent differences in mercury concentrations in Apodemus sp. in the north-western region of Slovakia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:10521-10532. [PMID: 38200190 PMCID: PMC10850257 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31802-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Pollution of ecosystems by heavy metals such as mercury is currently a great concern. Mercury (Hg) can be released into the environment anthropogenically, but it is also naturally present in small quantities in all environmental compartments. Many different factors contribute to different rates of Hg deposition in animal bodies. The aim of this work is to describe how Hg concentrations in the bodies of small rodents change throughout the season at a site where massive anthropogenic pollution is not expected. Mice of the genus Apodemus were sampled during the whole year. Samples of blood, hair, liver, kidney, and brain were analyzed. Total Hg concentrations were measured by DMA-80. The mean Hg concentrations in examined organs were in the order hairs > kidney > liver > blood > brain, and their values decreased from 0.0500 to 0.0046 mg kg-1 dry weight. Males and females did not differ in contamination levels, but age-dependent differences in Hg concentrations were found. It was also identified how Hg concentrations in different organs correlate with each other. Different levels of seasonal variability were detected in Hg concentrations in blood, hair, and kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Zábojníková
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia.
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2
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Warret Rodrigues C, Armstrong D, Wang F, Roth JD. Tissue composition and storage duration affect the usefulness of generic wet-to-dry mass conversion factors in toxicology studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116727. [PMID: 37495068 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
All ecosystems are exposed to a variety of anthropogenic contaminants. The potential threat posed by these contaminants to organisms has prompted scores of toxicology studies. Contaminant concentrations in wildlife toxicology studies are inconsistently expressed in wet or dry mass units, or even on a lipid-normalized basis, but tissue composition is rarely reported, and the conversion between dry and wet mass units, notably, is often based on assumed empirical moisture contents in tissues. However, diverse factors (e.g., tissue, storage conditions) may affect tissue composition and render comparisons between studies difficult or potentially biased. Here, we used data on the concentration of mercury, a global pollutant, in tissues of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to quantify the effects of diverse variables on moisture and lipid contents, and their consequences on contaminant concentration in different tissues, when converting between wet and dry mass units (lipid extracted or not). We found that moisture content differed largely between organs, enough to preclude the use of a single conversion factor, and decreased by 1% per year when stored at -80 °C. Although most fox tissues had low lipid concentrations, lipid content affected water content and their extraction affected the wet to dry mass conversion factor. We thus recommend reporting tissue composition (at least water and lipid contents) systematically in toxicology studies of mercury specifically and of contaminants in general, and using tissue/species specific conversion factors to convert between dry and wet mass concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Warret Rodrigues
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | - Debbie Armstrong
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, And Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, And Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - James D Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
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3
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Picone M, Distefano GG, Zangrando R, Gambaro A, Volpi Ghirardini A. Neonicotinoids and pharmaceuticals in hair of the Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula, Italy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115837. [PMID: 37028535 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids (NEOs) and active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) are contaminants widely diffused worldwide, causing increasing concern for potential adverse effects on wildlife. However, research on these contaminants have focused on target and non-target invertebrates, while information on potential effects in terrestrial mammals is lacking. We performed preliminary non-invasive monitoring of NEOs and API in a suburban and agricultural area using hair of the Red fox. The Red fox is a widely diffused mesopredator in Europe, and its plasticity in feeding habits makes it an excellent indicator for assessing exposure to environmental contamination. We observed the presence of NEOs in many Red fox hair samples (n = 11), including imidacloprid (IMI), acetamiprid (ACE), and clothianidin (CLO). The highest quantified concentrations were 6.4 ng g-1 dry weight (dw), 6.7 ng g-1 dw, and 0.9 ng g-1 dw for IMI, ACE, and CLO, respectively. The targeted APIs included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antidepressants. APIs were less frequently detected than NEOs, and the compounds with the highest prevalence were the NSAID ketoprofen (36%), the antidepressant sertraline (36%), and its active metabolite norsertraline (27%). The presence of human pharmaceuticals such as the NSAID ibuprofen and the antidepressants sertraline, fluoxetine, and their active metabolites norsertraline and norfluoxetine suggest environmental contamination due to untreated and partially treated wastewater discharged in surface waters and soils of the study area. The detection and quantification of ketoprofen and flunixin also suggest the possible use of contaminated manure on farmland. Findings indicate that hair may be used for monitoring environmental exposure to NEOs and provide evidence that hair is a good marker of exposure for antidepressants and certain NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and flunixin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Giuseppe Distefano
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Roberta Zangrando
- National Council for the Research - Institute of Polar Sciences, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Andrea Gambaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy; National Council for the Research - Institute of Polar Sciences, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy
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4
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Treu G, Sinding MHS, Czirják GÁ, Dietz R, Gräff T, Krone O, Marquard-Petersen U, Mikkelsen JB, Schulz R, Sonne C, Søndergaard J, Sun J, Zubrod J, Eulaers I. An assessment of mercury and its dietary drivers in fur of Arctic wolves from Greenland and High Arctic Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156171. [PMID: 35613645 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury has become a ubiquitous hazardous element even ending up in pristine areas such as the Arctic, where it biomagnifies and leaves especially top predators vulnerable to potential health effects. Here we investigate total mercury (THg) concentrations and dietary proxies for trophic position and habitat foraging (δ15N and δ13C, respectively) in fur of 30 Arctic wolves collected during 1869-1998 in the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland. Fur THg concentrations (mean ± SD) of 1.46 ± 1.39 μg g -1 dry weight are within the range of earlier reported values for other Arctic terrestrial species. Based on putative thresholds for Hg-mediated toxic health effects, the studied Arctic wolves have most likely not been at compromised health. Dietary proxies show high dietary plasticity among Arctic wolves deriving nutrition from both marine and terrestrial food sources at various trophic positions. Variability in THg concentrations seem to be related to the wolves' trophic position rather than to different carbon sources or regional differences (East Greenland, the Foxe Basin and Baffin Bay area, respectively). Although the present study remains limited due to the scarce, yet unique historic study material and small sample size, it provides novel information on temporal and spatial variation in Hg pollution of remote Arctic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Treu
- German Environment Agency, Department Chemicals, DE-06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, DE-10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, DE-10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Gräff
- German Environment Agency, Department Systems on Chemical Safety, DE-6844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, DE-10315 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, DE-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jiachen Sun
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, CN-266003 Qingdao, China
| | - Jochen Zubrod
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, DE-76829 Landau, Germany; Zubrod Environmental Data Science, Friesenstrasse 20, 76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
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5
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Dahmardeh Behrooz R, Poma G, Barghi M. Non-destructive mercury exposure assessment in the Brandt's hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas): spines as indicators of endogenous concentrations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:56502-56510. [PMID: 35347622 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19926-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to its persistence, bioaccumulation characteristics, and toxicity, environmental contamination with mercury (Hg) is of high concern for human health, living organisms, and ecosystems, and its biological monitoring is highly relevant. In this study, the levels of total Hg were measured in organs, tissues, and spines of 50 individuals of Brandt's hedgehog collected in Iran in 2019. The Hg median levels in kidneys, liver, muscle, and spines were 156, 47, 47, and 20 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the levels of Hg in kidneys and liver (r = 0.519; p < 0.01) and in spines and muscle (r = 0.337, p < 0.01) and kidneys (r = 0.309, p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in Hg levels in organs and tissues were also observed depending on the sex, weight, length, and age of the individuals. In addition, the median levels of total Hg in kidneys of Brandt's hedgehogs from an agricultural ecotype (median 190 ± 65) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those collected from a forest ecotype (median 126 ± 50), suggesting that the habitat could have a significant impact on animal contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Dahmardeh Behrooz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Sistan, Iran.
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mandana Barghi
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
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6
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Secrets of the Astute Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus, 1758): An Inside-Ecosystem Secret Agent Serving One Health. ENVIRONMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/environments8100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An ecosystem’s health is based on a delicate balance between human, nonhuman animal, and environmental health. Any factor that leads to an imbalance in one of the components results in disease. There are several bioindicators that allow us to evaluate the status of ecosystems. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus, 1758) has the widest world distribution among mammals. It is highly adaptable, lives in rural and urban areas, and has a greatly diverse diet. Being susceptible to environmental pollution and zoonotic agents, red foxes may act as sentinels to detect environmental contaminants, climatic changes and to prevent and control outbreaks of emerging or re-emerging zoonosis. This paper aims to compile the latest information that is related to the red fox as a sentinel of human, animal, and environmental health.
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7
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Dahmardeh Behrooz R, Poma G. Evaluation of Mercury Contamination in Iranian Wild Cats Through Hair Analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:166-172. [PMID: 32306286 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02148-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Due to its environmental persistence and bioaccumulative properties, mercury is considered highly toxic to humans, ecosystems, and wildlife. The present study aimed to investigate the total mercury (Hg) concentrations in hair samples of 40 wild cats belonging to eight different species collected from various provinces of Iran and to characterize their risk of Hg exposure. Total Hg levels in Iranian wild cats ranged from 62 to 3670 ng/g dw hair, with a median value of 488 ng/g dw hair. The lowest median Hg concentration was found in west Iran (251 ng/g dw hair), while the highest median level was measured in the north-east of the country (736 ng/g dw hair), likely related to its past use in agriculture and potential contamination of industrial effluents. The overall contamination of Iranian wild cats with mercury can be considered generally low, but 20% of the samples reached levels above 1100 ng/g dw hair, set as indicative of an environmental Hg concern according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our data are comparable with other investigations on wildlife worldwide, confirming the suitability of museum collection specimens to assess the environmental levels of Hg. We showed that, while diet and habitat can influence the mercury accumulation in wild cats, complementary factors, such as age, size, and interspecific metabolic differences, should be considered as well in future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Dahmardeh Behrooz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Sistan, Iran.
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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8
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Peterson SH, Ackerman JT, Hartman CA, Casazza ML, Feldheim CL, Herzog MP. Mercury exposure in mammalian mesopredators inhabiting a brackish marsh. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 273:115808. [PMID: 33497946 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants in mammalian predators can serve as an indicator of ecosystem health. We examined mercury concentrations of raccoons (Procyon lotor; n = 37 individuals) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis; n = 87 individuals) in Suisun Marsh, California, a large brackish marsh that is characterized by contiguous tracts of tidal marsh and seasonally impounded wetlands. Mean (standard error; range) total mercury concentrations in adult hair grown from 2015 to 2018 were 28.50 μg/g dw (3.05 μg/g dw; range: 4.46-81.01 μg/g dw) in raccoons and 4.85 μg/g dw (0.54 μg/g dw; range: 1.53-27.02 μg/g dw) in striped skunks. We reviewed mammalian hair mercury concentrations in the literature and raccoon mercury concentrations in Suisun Marsh were among the highest observed for wild mammals. Although striped skunk hair mercury concentrations were 83% lower than raccoons, they were higher than proposed background levels for mercury in mesopredator hair (1-5 μg/g). Hair mercury concentrations in skunks and raccoons were not related to animal size, but mercury concentrations were higher in skunks in poorer body condition. Large inter-annual differences in hair mercury concentrations suggest that methylmercury exposure to mammalian predators varied among years. Mercury concentrations of raccoon hair grown in 2017 were 2.7 times greater than hair grown in 2015, 1.7 times greater than hair grown in 2016, and 1.6 times greater than hair grown in 2018. Annual mean raccoon and skunk hair mercury concentrations increased with wetland habitat area. Furthermore, during 2017, raccoon hair mercury concentrations increased with the proportion of raccoon home ranges that was wetted habitat, as quantified using global positioning system (GPS) collars. The elevated mercury concentrations we observed in raccoons and skunks suggest that other wildlife at similar or higher trophic positions may also be exposed to elevated methylmercury bioaccumulation in brackish marshes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Peterson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA.
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - C Alex Hartman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Michael L Casazza
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Cliff L Feldheim
- California Department of Water Resources, 3500 Industrial Blvd #131, West Sacramento, CA 95691, USA
| | - Mark P Herzog
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
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9
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Lazarus M, Orct T, Sergiel A, Vranković L, Marijić VF, Rašić D, Reljić S, Aladrović J, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Zięba F, Jurasović J, Erk M, Maślak R, Selva N, Huber Đ. Metal(loid) exposure assessment and biomarker responses in captive and free-ranging European brown bear (Ursus arctos). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109166. [PMID: 32004830 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the level of five non-essential metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Hg, Tl, Pb) and nine essential metals (Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo) in hair and blood components of captive and free-ranging European brown bear populations in Croatia and Poland. Metal(loid) associations with biomarkers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, SOD; glutathione-peroxidase, GSH-Px; malondialdehyde, MDA) and metal exposure (metallothionein, MT) were estimated in this top predatory mammal. Lead was the most abundant non-essential metal(loid) in both blood and hair, with 4 of 35 individuals having blood levels over 100 μg/L. A positive association was found between Pb level and SOD activity in blood. Free-ranging bears had higher blood SOD activity, Mn, Zn and Cd levels, hair Co, Cd, Tl and Pb compared to captive individuals, while the opposite was true for Mg and hair Ca thereby reflecting habitat and diet differences. With increasing age, animals showed lower levels of SOD activity and certain essential metals. Females had higher SOD activity and blood levels of some essential metals than males. Hair showed a higher Fe and Co level when sampled during the growth phase and was not predictive of non-essential metal(loid) blood levels. The established metal(loid) baseline values will enable future risk assessment in both captive and wild European brown bear populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Lazarus
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Tatjana Orct
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Lana Vranković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Dubravka Rašić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Jasna Aladrović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | | | - Jasna Jurasović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Robert Maślak
- Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Đuro Huber
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
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10
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Kosik-Bogacka D, Osten-Sacken N, Łanocha-Arendarczyk N, Kot K, Pilarczyk B, Tomza-Marciniak A, Podlasińska J, Chmielarz M, Heddergott M, Frantz AC, Steinbach P. Selenium and mercury in the hair of raccoons (Procyon lotor) and European wildcats (Felis s. silvestris) from Germany and Luxembourg. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1-12. [PMID: 31734834 PMCID: PMC6987061 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02120-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the concentration of total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se), as well as the molar ratio of Se:THg in hair samples of terrestrial animals. THg and Se concentrations were measured from the hair of raccoons (Procyon lotor) and European wildcats (Felis s. silvestris) from Germany and Luxembourg. Median THg concentrations in hair from raccoons and wildcats were 0.369 and 0.273 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw), respectively. Se concentrations were higher in the hair of raccoons than of wildcats (0.851 and 0.641 mg kg-1 dw, respectively). Total mercury concentration in hair of raccoons from Luxembourg was almost 5× higher that found in hair of raccoons from Germany; however, Se concentration was similar. Thus, molar ratio of Se:THg was ~4× higher in the hair of raccoons from Germany than those from Luxembourg. Significant negative correlation was found between THg concentration and Se:THg molar ratio in both wildcats and raccoons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Kosik-Bogacka
- Independent of Pharmaceutical Botany, Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstanców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Natalia Osten-Sacken
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
- Fondation faune-flore, 25 rue Muenster, L-2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Natalia Łanocha-Arendarczyk
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstanców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Karolina Kot
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstanców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Bogumiła Pilarczyk
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Prophylaxis, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Judyma 6, 71-466, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Tomza-Marciniak
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Prophylaxis, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Judyma 6, 71-466, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Joanna Podlasińska
- Department of Ecology, Environmental Management and Protection, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Słowackiego 17, 71-434, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Mateusz Chmielarz
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstanców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Mike Heddergott
- National Museum of Natural History, 25 Rue Münster, 2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Alain C Frantz
- National Museum of Natural History, 25 Rue Münster, 2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Peter Steinbach
- University of Göttingen, Faculty of Chemistry, Tammannstraße 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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11
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Duffy L, De Wilde L, Spellman K, Dunlap K, Dainowski B, McCullough S, Luick B, van Muelken M. Resilience and Adaptation: Yukon River Watershed Contaminant Risk Indicators. SCIENTIFICA 2018; 2018:8421513. [PMID: 30364057 PMCID: PMC6188583 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8421513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
River watersheds are among the most complex terrestrial features in Alaska, performing valuable ecosystem functions and providing services for human society. Rivers are vital to both estuarine and aquatic biota and play important roles in biogeochemical cycles and physical processes. The functions of watersheds have been used as vulnerability indicators for ecosystem and socioeconomic resilience. Despite a long history of human activity, the Yukon River has not received the holistic and interdisciplinary attention given to the other great American river systems. By using hypothesis-based monitoring of key watershed functions, we can gain insight to regime-shifting stresses such as fire, toxins, and invasive species development. Coupling adaptive risk management practices involving stakeholders with place-based education, especially contaminants and nutrition related, can maintain resilience within communities. The Yukon watershed provides a broadscale opportunity for communities to monitor the environment, manage resources, and contribute to stewardship policy formation. Monitoring keystone species and community activities, such as citizen science, are critical first steps to following changes to resiliency throughout the Yukon watershed. Creating a policy environment that encourages local experimentation and innovation contributes to resilience maintenance during development-imposed stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Duffy
- Resilience and Adaptation Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - La'Ona De Wilde
- Resilience and Adaptation Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Katie Spellman
- International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Kriya Dunlap
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Bonita Dainowski
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Susan McCullough
- Interior Alaska Campus, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Bret Luick
- School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Mary van Muelken
- Resilience and Adaptation Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
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Treu G, Krone O, Unnsteinsdóttir ER, Greenwood AD, Czirják GÁ. Correlations between hair and tissue mercury concentrations in Icelandic arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 619-620:1589-1598. [PMID: 29107366 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring organic pollutants in wildlife is a common approach to evaluate environmental health, chemical exposure and to make hazard assessments. However, pollutant concentrations measured from different tissue types among studies impede direct comparisons of levels and toxicity benchmarks among species and regions. For example, mercury (Hg) is a metal of both natural and anthropogenic origin which poses health risks for marine and arctic biota in particular. Although hair is recognized as the least invasive sample type for Hg exposure measurement in wildlife, measurements in previous studies have used different tissues among individuals and species. This lack of tissue type consistency hinders cross study comparisons. Therefore to systematically evaluate the use of hair in ecotoxicological studies, total mercury (THg) concentrations measured from hair were compared to values obtained from liver and kidney in 35 Icelandic arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus). THg concentrations varied considerably among tissues with hair and kidney levels generally lower than in liver. Nevertheless, significant correlations among tissue types were observed. THg values in hair were predictive for liver (R2=0.61) and kidney THg levels (R2=0.51) and liver values were a good predictor of THg in kidney (R2=0.77). We provide further evidence that non-invasively collected hair samples reflect the THg levels of internal tissues. We present equations derived from multiple linear regression models that can be used to relate THg levels among tissue types in order to extrapolate THg values from hair to soft tissues. Using these equations, we compare the results of previous studies monitoring THg levels in different tissues of arctic foxes from various regions of the Arctic. Our findings support that hair is a suitable sample matrix for ecotoxicological studies of arctic predators and may be applied in both wildlife welfare and conservation contexts for arctic vulpine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Treu
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Alex D Greenwood
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
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13
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Hernández F, Oldenkamp RE, Webster S, Beasley JC, Farina LL, Wisely SM. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) as Sentinels of Trace Element Contamination and Physiological Effects of Exposure to Coal Fly Ash. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2017; 72:235-246. [PMID: 27933359 PMCID: PMC5281671 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-016-0340-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pollutants disrupt global biodiversity, and terrestrial sentinels of pollution can provide a warning system for ecosystem-wide contamination. This study sought to assess whether raccoons (Procyon lotor) are sentinels of local exposure to trace element contaminants at a coal fly ash site and whether exposure resulted in health impairment or changes in the intestinal helminth communities. We compared trace element accumulation and the impact on health responses and intestinal helminth communities of raccoons inhabiting contaminated and reference sites of the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (South Carolina, USA). Data on morphometry, hematology, histopathology, helminth community and abundance, and liver trace element burdens were collected from 15 raccoons captured adjacent to a coal fly ash basin and 11 raccoons from a comparable uncontaminated site nearby. Of eight trace elements analyzed, Cu, As, Se, and Pb were elevated in raccoons from the contaminated site. Raccoons from the contaminated site harbored higher helminth abundance than animals from the reference site and that abundance was positively associated with increased Cu concentrations. While we found changes in hematology associated with increased Se exposure, we did not find physiological or histological changes associated with higher levels of contaminants. Our results suggest that raccoons and their intestinal helminths act as sentinels of trace elements in the environment associated with coal fly ash contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Hernández
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, PO Box 116455, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, PO Box 110430, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Ricki E Oldenkamp
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Sarah Webster
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lisa L Farina
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, PO Box 116455, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, PO Box 110430, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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