Cadmium in selected organs of fallow‐deer (dama dama), sheep(ovisaries), brown hare (lepus europaeus) and rabbit(oryctolaguscuniculus) in Slovakia

Risk Assessment of Cd, Cu, and Pb from the consumption of hunted meat: red-legged partridge and wild rabbit

The objective was to assess that potential health risk from Cd, Cu, and Pb, through the consumption of hunted red-legged partridge and wild rabbit meat, with special focus on the population of hunters and their relatives. Mineral content was analyzed by atomic absorption methods (F-AAS for Cu and GF-AAS for Cd and Pb) after microwave digestion of lyophilized samples. The average concentrations of these elements were 0.008 and 0.01 mg/kg for Cd; 1.41 and 1.63 mg/kg for Cu and 0.98 and 1.28 mg/kg for Pb in wild rabbit and red-legged partridge meat respectively. The dietary, risk assessment was performed by assuming two intake scenarios based on the obtained results of the survey on game meat consumption and the current maximum recommended intakes of Cd, Cu, and Pb, and then, the hazard quotients (THQ and TTHQ) were calculated. The data show that exposure to these metals from eating red-legged partridge and wild rabbit meat from a hunting provenance is relatively low and generally greater in the hunter population. The risk assessment revealed that moderate or low consumption of meat of these species does not offer a significant public health risk. Moreover, hazard quotients values for these metals of red-legged partridge and rabbit meat consumption in hunters and nonhunters are below 1. However, a high Pb content in the meat of these species and a high consumption may pose a greater health risk to hunters.

Selenium, cadmium and diazinon insecticide in tissues of rats after peroral exposure

The concentrations of selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd) and diazinon (DZN) in selected tissues of rats after an oral administration in various combinations were analyzed. Male rats were orally dosed with diazinon (40 mg.L-1), diazinon (40 mg.L-1) +selenium (5 mg.L-1), diazinon (40 mg.L-1) +cadmium (30 mg.L-1), and diazinon (40 mg.L-1) +selenium (5 mg.L-1) +cadmium (30 mg.L-1) in drinking water. After 90 days of per oral administration of compounds, the samples of liver, kidney, muscle tissue (m. quadriceps femoris), and adipose tissue were collected. The content of DZN was analyzed using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Cd was analyzed using an Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS) and Se using a Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HG-AAS) methods. Cadmium significantly increased in liver and kidney after DZN +Cd and DZN +Se +Cd administration. Se significantly increased in liver of DZN +Se, DZN +Se +Cd and DZN +Cd exposed rats, in kidney of DZN +Se and DZN +Se +Cd and DZN +Cd, and in muscle of DZN +Se +Cd group. Highest DZN content was found in the adipose tissue in DZN, DZN +Cd and DZN +Se +Cd but not in combined exposure with Se. Anyway, the differences between the control and experimental groups were not significant. The results indicate that cadmium and selenium accumulate mainly in liver, kidney and selenium also in muscle after p.o. administration but diazinon concentrations increases were not signifcant. The co-administration of diazinon, Se and Cd affects the content of these compounds in the organism and the accumulation rate depends on the combination of administered compounds. Diazinon and cadmium could contribute to the selenium redistribution in the organism after the peroral intake.

Cadmium, lead and mercury concentrations in selected red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) tissues from north-eastern Croatia

Concentrations of cadmium, lead and mercury were determined in muscle, liver and kidney tissue from three different age groups of red deer (young animals aged 6 or 7 months, middle-aged animals aged 3 to 5 years, old animals aged over 8 years) from the Baranja region of Croatia. Median cadmium concentrations were low in the muscles of all investigated age groups (0.0002; 0.0009 and 0.0020 μg/g), higher in the liver (0.0279; 0.0656 and 0.1463 μg/g) and highest in the kidneys (0.4792; 2.8531 and 6.1657 μg/g). A positive correlation was established between cadmium concentration and age. In all analyzed tissues the median lead concentration was higher in young (muscle 0.0024; liver 0.0364 and kidney 0.0618 μg/g), compared to middle-aged animals (muscle 0.0001; liver 0.0184 and kidney 0.0160 μg/g). In contrast to cadmium, mercury had a negative correlation to age but median concentrations were very low (in muscle: 0.0011; 0.0001 and 0.0006 μg/g; in liver: 0.0051; 0.0037 and 0.0022 μg/g and in kidney: 0.0145; 0.0183 and 0.0106 μg/g) especially compared to cadmium. From the hygienic point of view all the examined tissues are edible since concentrations of the analyzed metals do not exceed values proposed by the official regulations, with the exception of a few kidney samples, which contained cadmium above the recommended value. Furthermore, mercury concentrations are no longer (since 2008) a matter of legislation.

The effect of cadmium in combination with zinc and selenium on ovarian structure in Japanese quails

In this study the effect of cadmium, cadmium+selenium and cadmium+zinc administration on the ovarian structure in Japanese quails was studied. The morphometric analysis of the relative volume of primary follicles detected the highest value in control group with a similar value in the group with administration of cadmium with selenium. Lower relative volume is reported in group with cadmium and zinc administration and the group with simple cadmium administration (P < 0.05). The relative volume of growing follicles was very similar in all studied groups (11.33-15.35%), and the relative volume of stroma was very stable (82.59-86.45%). In the evaluation of the number of follicles undergoing atresia detected significantly higher number of atretic primary follicles as well as atretic growing follicles in the group with cadmium administration and cadmium with selenium administration in comparison with control group. In comparison of normal and atretic follicles we report the most negative effect of single cadmium administration on ovarian structure. Selenium co-administration shows protective effects but only the co-administration with zinc prevent significant cadmium ovarian alterations.

Distribution of cadmium and lead in liver and kidney of some wild animals in Slovakia

The content of cadmium and lead, as risk factors of environment, in liver and kidneys of wild animals as brown hare (Lepus europaeus), yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), wood mouse (Cleithrionomys glareolus), and red deer (Cervus elaphus) were studied. Samples were analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method (AAS). The highest levels of cadmium were found in kidneys (0.213-2.387 mg/kg) of all animal species. The concentration of cadmium in liver was 0.032-0.258 mg/kg. The analysis of lead showed that the concentration of this element was higher in kidneys of yellow-necked mouse and wood mouse (0.503-0.780 mg/kg) than in liver (0.177-0.268 mg/kg). In brown hare and red deer a higher accumulation of lead in liver (0.221-1.904 mg/kg) in comparison with kidneys (0.115-0.561 mg/kg) is reported.

Concentration of selected metals in liver, kidney, and muscle of the red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Concentration of cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc, copper, and manganese in liver, kidney, and muscle of red deer was investigated. For analysis of the content of these trace elements an AAS method was used. The concentration of cadmium was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in kidney in comparison with liver and muscle. The level of lead was the highest in muscle (p < 0.05). Lower values were detected in liver and in kidney. The concentration of chromium was very similar in all studied tissues. A higher concentration of zinc was found in muscle, followed by kidney and liver. The level of copper was significantly higher in liver (p < 0.05), and lower in kidneys and muscle. In evaluation of the concentration of manganese in red deer, the highest concentration of this element in liver was detected.

Accumulation of lead, cadmium, and mercury in liver and kidney of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in relation to the season, age, and sex in the West Slovakian Lowland

Concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury in liver and kidneys of brown hares in relation to season, age, and sex were investigated. Over a period of one year 74 hares, 36 males and 38 females were analyzed. The concentrations of lead and cadmium were analyzed by AAS and mercury was determined by mercury vapor technique. The median concentration of lead in liver as well as in kidney in relation to the season is the highest in winter period in comparison with spring, summer, and summer period (p < 0.001). The highest concentration of cadmium was found in winter, but the differences were not significant. In mercury, we report significantly higher (p < 0.001) median concentrations in liver (0.023 mg kg(-1)) as well as in kidney (0.068 mg kg(-1)) in winter period in comparison with all other observed periods. In relation to age the concentrations in lead and mercury in liver and kidney were very similar, without significant differences. In cadmium we report significantly higher concentrations in the liver as well as kidney in adult animals (0.154 and 1.521 mg kg(-1)) in comparison with juvenile animals (0.048 and 0.582 mg kg(-1), respectively). In comparison of the female and male brown hares we found significantly higher (p < 0.05) median concentration of lead in the liver of males (0.216 mg kg(-1)) than in females (0.127 mg kg(-1)) and the level of cadmium is significantly higher (p < 0.001) in females (1.464 mg kg(-1) than in male brown hares (1.384 mg kg(-1)).

Concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel in boar semen and relation to the spermatozoa quality

The concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel as well as its relation to spermatozoa quality was investigated. The semen samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The concentration of copper in boar semen was 1.64 +/- 0.28 mg kg(-1) and of iron 16.14 +/- 10.35 mg kg(-1). The concentration of zinc in boar semen reached an average value of 171.74 +/- 64.72 mg kg(-1) and the level of cadmium reached 0.01-0.16 mg kg(-1) with the average value of 0.05 mg kg(-1). The analysis of lead showed that the concentration of this element in boar semen was 0.02 +/- 0.03 mg kg(-1) and the average level of nickel was 0.06 +/- 0.08 mg kg(-1). The total percentage of pathological spermatozoa was 9.82 +/- 1.47%. Detail analysis determined 3.18% of separated flagellum, 2.26% knob twisted flagellum, 0.88% flagellum torso, 0.85% flagellum ball, 0.42% broken flagellum, 0.23% retention of the cytoplasmic drop, 0.14% small heads, 0.03% large heads, and 1.83% forms other of pathological changes. Correlation analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between copper and lead (r = 0.52). High correlation between small head and knob twisted tail (r = 0.67), small head and broken flagellum (r = 0.88) as well as between small head and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.73) was determined.

Influence of environmental cadmium on testicular proliferation in roe deer

The influence of cadmium on spermatogenesis in roe deer was studied, comparing animals from areas with high (n = 37) and low (n = 23) cadmium exposure. Testes were evaluated during pre-rut (May) and rut (July/August). During these periods the cadmium accumulation (mg/kg kidney) in polluted regions averaged 3.41 and 3.52 in comparison with 1.61 and 1.81 in controls. Cadmium accumulation was positively correlated with testis weight during both seasons. In May the proliferation (units of tissue polypeptid specific antigen/g parenchyma) was lower in animals with higher cadmium (24.02 compared with 78.20; P < 0.01). During the rut, testicular proliferation and spermatozoa/g testis as well as apoptosis showed no significant changes with increased cadmium contamination. The results suggest delayed proliferation during the pre-rutting period in animals with high cadmium exposure, but other indications of effects on the testis were not significant.