Sex- and age-dependent accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) in liver, kidney and muscle of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from NW Spain

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering, 2011-01, Vol.46 (2), p.109-116
• Main Authors: García, María Hermoso de Mendoza, Moreno, David Hernández, Rodríguez, Francisco Soler, Beceiro, Ana López, Álvarez, Luis E. Fidalgo, López, Marcos Pérez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; age; Aging - metabolism; Animals; Applied sciences; Bioaccumulation; bioindicator; Biomarkers - analysis; Cadmium; Cadmium - pharmacokinetics; Capreolus capreolus; Deer; Deer - growth & development; Deer - metabolism; Diaphragm - drug effects; Diaphragm - metabolism; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Exact sciences and technology; Female; females; Heavy metal; Heavy metals; indicator species; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - metabolism; Kidneys; lead; Lead (metal); Lead - pharmacokinetics; Liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Male; males; Mass spectrometry; Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics; Muscles; Pollution; roe deer; Sex; Sex Characteristics; Spain; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Tissue Distribution; Toxicity; Zinc; Zinc - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 1532-4117; 1093-4529; 1532-4117
• DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2011.532422

In the present study, bioaccumulation of lead, cadmium and zinc in liver, kidney and muscle of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Galicia (NW Spain) was quantified. Metal analysis was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In general the quantified concentrations were associated with background environmental levels, except for Pb, where some markedly elevated concentrations were obtained, but with no toxicological relevance. The effect of sex on Cd, Pb and Zn levels was considered, females showing a general trend to accumulate higher concentrations of these metals, with the exception of the hepatic content of Cd (which was significantly higher in males, P < 0.05) and Pb levels, which did not differ according to sex. The effect of age was analysed only in male animals and was clearly observed for Pb levels, with concentrations significantly higher in adult animals (liver: P < 0.01, kidney: P < 0.05 and muscle: P < 0.001) and for Cd levels in kidney samples (P < 0.001). This study provides the first data on heavy metal content in roe deer from the area of study and suggests that this species could be a good bioindicator of metal pollution, even though both factors, sex and age, could represent an important source of variation in the bioaccumulation of these metals in wild populations.