Concentrations of some toxic and trace elements in wild boar (Sus scrofa) organs and tissues in different areas of the Province of Viterbo, Central Italy

Variability of the Ionome of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in a Dutch National Park, with Implications for Biomonitoring

The ionome-an important expression of the physiological state of organisms-is poorly known for mammals. The focus on particular tissues-such as liver, kidney, and bones-in biomonitoring of environmental pollution and potential deficiencies is based on widely held assumptions rather than solid knowledge of full mammalian ionomes. We examined the full ionome of Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Wild boar (Sus scrofa), two commonly used mammals for biomonitoring, in a Dutch protected nature reserve (Veluwezoom). We used four individuals per species. We dissected 13 tissues and organs from each individuals (eight in total) of each species and measured 22 elemental concentrations in each. We assessed, for each element, how concentrations varied across tissues within and between individuals. Based on existing literature, we put our findings in the context of their function in the mammalian body. We found that the ionome was highly variable between as well as within the two species. For most elements, tissues containing the highest and lowest concentration differed between individuals. No single tissue accurately represented the accumulation of toxic elements or potential deficiencies in the bodies. Our assessment of the element's biological roles revealed a serious lack of reference values. Our findings imply that analyses of commonly used tissues in biomonitoring do not necessarily capture bioaccumulation of toxins or potential deficiencies. We recommend establishing a centralized database of mammalian ionomes to derive reference values in future. To our knowledge, our study is one of the most complete assessments of mammalian ionomes to date.

Ionomic Variation Among Tissues in Fallow Deer (Dama dama) by Sex and Age

(1) In mammals, the mineral nutrient and trace elemental composition of the body - the ionome - differs among individuals. It has been hypothesized that these differences may be related to age and sex, both for ecotoxic and essential elements. (2) We investigated whether and how intraspecific ionomic variation is related to age and sex in Fallow deer (Dama dama). We tested the predictions that concentrations of ecotoxic elements increase with age, that ionomic variation is lower among young individuals than among older individuals, and that reproductive females (does) have the lowest concentrations of essential elements. (3) Culled animals of different sex and age were obtained from a single protected area. The animals were dissected to collect 13 tissues, and concentrations of 22 different elements were measured in a sample of each tissue. (4) We described substantial ionomic variation between individuals. Some of this variation was related to age and sex, as predicted. Based on the limited existing knowledge on chemical element allocation and metabolism in the body, sex-related differences were more difficult to interpret than age-related differences. Since reference values are absent, we could not judge about the consequences of the elemental values that we found. (5) More extensive ionomic surveys, based on a wide range of elements and tissues, are needed to enlarge the understanding of within-species ionomic variation and potential biological, ecological, and metabolic consequences.

Use of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) as a Sustainable Alternative in Pork Production

Pork production involves several sustainability issues. The recent increase in the natural wild boar population and the possibilities of its breeding to produce meat and for sport hunting have revived attention on this wild species. The most important factors that could account for its expansion and niche invasion are briefly summarized with the scientific opinion on management strategies. The information available to date on the quantitative, nutritional, and sensory characteristics of wild boar meat is reviewed to highlight its potential, if properly managed, as a sustainable option in meat production. This review reports on the opportunity of using wild boar meat in processed products and the need for research on processing qualities and acceptability for different final products. Above all, this review suggests that wild boar can be considered a sustainable alternative to meet the animal protein demand, as it can be established in marginal areas where it is already adapted to the environment, representing an interesting addition to traditional zootechnics.

Monitoring of metal content in the tissues of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and its food safety aspect

The study was performed on 10 female and 10 male wild boars (Sus scrofa) after shooting during the regular hunting season to investigate the concentration of metals in the muscle and fat tissue. The concentrations of essential and non-essential elements were determined (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn)) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The concentrations of As, Hg, and Cd were below the limit of detection (As, Hg: < 0.5 mg/kg, Cd: < 0.05 mg/kg) in every tissue sample of both sexes. The lead was detected as 0.36 ± 0.16 mg/kg and 0.22 ± 0.06 mg/kg in the muscle of females and males, respectively, showing a significant difference between the sexes (p = 0.0184). The measured concentration of Cr was 0.14 ± 0.08 mg/kg and 0.13 ± 0.06 mg/kg, and that of copper was 1.22 ± 0.14 mg/kg and 1.06 ± 0.16 mg/kg in the muscle of females and males, respectively. The same tendency was observed in the case of copper content of fat tissues (female: 0.13 ± 0.10 mg/kg; male: 0.13 ± 0.04 mg/kg; p = 0.2707). Manganese concentration of muscle was 0.45 ± 0.30 mg/kg (female) and 1.36 ± 0.96 mg/kg (male), and that of fat tissue was 0.32 ± 0.22 mg/kg (female) and 0.74 ± 0.75 mg/kg (male). The Zn was detected as 56.75 ± 7.86 mg/kg and 1.83 ± 0.76 mg/kg in the muscle and fat of females and 52.12 ± 11.51 mg/kg and 1.94 ± 0.57 mg/kg in males, respectively. Based on data, the consumption of fat and muscle tissues of the wild boars tested can be food toxicologically objectionable, mainly due to the lead content, and thus pose a risk to frequent consumers of this type of game meat.

Occurrence of Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Muscle and Liver of Italian Heavy Pigs and Potential Health Risk Associated with Dietary Exposure

Muscle and liver tissues from Italian heavy pigs were analyzed to investigate whether the chronic consumption of these products by local consumers could represent a health risk in relation to the contamination by some toxic metals and metalloids (TMMs). The concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sn, U, and Zn were measured with an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, while Hg analysis was performed by using a mercury analyzer. Fe, Zn, and Cu were the most abundant elements in both tissues, while U was detected only at ultra-trace levels. As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, U, and Zn showed significantly higher concentrations in livers compared to muscles (p ≤ 0.01), with Cd and Cu being 60- and 9-fold more concentrated in the hepatic tissue. Despite this, concentrations of all TMMs were found to be very low in all the samples to the point that the resulting estimated dietary intakes did not suggest any food safety concern. Indeed, intakes were all below the toxicological health-based guidance values or resulted in low margins of exposure. Nevertheless, in the calculation of the worst-case exposure scenario, the children's estimated intake of Cd, Fe, and Zn through the sole consumption of pig liver contributed to more than 23, 38, and 39% of the tolerable weekly intakes of these elements, while the combined consumption of pig liver and pig muscle to more than 24, 46, and 76%. These findings alert about the probability of exceeding the toxicological guidance values of Cd, Fe, and Zn though the whole diet, suggesting long-term negative health effects for the younger population.

Concentrations of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and some essential metals in wild boar from Sweden

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is becoming more common in Europe and has potential to be used as sentinel species for local contamination of heavy metals. Concentrations of nine trace elements (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)) were examined in kidney tissue of 104 female wild boars hunted at three sites in Sweden. The interrelationships between the trace elements and age dependency were investigated. Reproductive health was previously known to differ among animals at the different study sites, but could not be explained by heavy metal concentrations and no associations were found between heavy metals and reproductive parameters. Kidney concentrations of Cd (mean 4.16 mg/kg wet weight (w.w.), range 0.16–12.8) were higher than the permissible level for human consumption in 99.9% of the samples. Pb concentrations were generally intermediate or low (mean 0.14 mg/kg w.w., range 0.03–1.01) and exceeded the levels accepted for human consumption in 0.02% of the samples. Age class was significantly associated with the concentrations of Cd, Mg, and Mn. Concentrations of As were low (mean 0.02 mg/kg w.w., range <0.0001–0.08) and Cu and Se concentrations were within the ranges of suspected deficiency for 10% and 4% of the wild boars, respectively.

Levels of Metals and Organochlorine Pesticides in Kidney, Liver, and Muscle Tissues of Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) from Hatay Province, Eastern Mediterranean Region, Turkey

Increases in the levels of environmental contaminants are reflected in wild animals, which are early indicators of pollution. Hatay is an ecologically important region with a high intensity of industrial and agricultural activities. This study aimed to investigate the contamination levels of metals and organochlorine pesticides associated with environmental pollution in tissues of wild boars from Turkey. The highest mean levels (mg kg^-1) of metals were 0.05 for As, 0.51 for Cd, 6.30 for Cu, 0.07 for Hg, 0.54 for Ni, and 0.57 for Pb in kidney tissues and 0.22 for Cr, 353.38 for Fe, 2.86 for Mn, and 46.76 for Zn in liver tissues. The Cd and Pb levels exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) in some tissues. Among the studied pesticides, only p,p'-DDE contamination was quantified, and the mean levels were 3.6, 0.1, and 0.5 µg kg^-1 in liver, kidney, and muscle tissues respectively. In conclusion, Hatay Province requires monitoring in terms of environmentally important contaminants, mainly Cd, Pb, and DDT isomers.