engleski

Mercury level in tissues of European Badger (Meles meles L.) from Eastern Slavonia, Croatia

Wild free-ranging mammals are important sentinels of environmental heavy metal pollution due to their permanent exposure in various habitats. The concentrations of total mercury (Hg) was determined in samples of liver, kidney and muscle of European badger, Meles meles L. (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from eastern Slavonia region, north-eastern Croatia. Total of 29 badgers were collected at 20 localities by regular hunt or found killed in road traffic accidents, in the period 2009- 2011.Determination of mercury concentration was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Mean Hg concentration was higher in kidney (0.1833 mg kg-1) compared to liver (0.1401 mg kg-1) and muscle (0.0381 mg kg-1). The highest concentrations were measured in adult, seven year old female (2.002 mg kg-1 in liver ; 1.813 mg kg-1 in kidney ; 0.255 mg kg-1 in muscle). Higher mercury accumulation in kidney than liver suggests an inorganic form of mercury which is excreted mainly by kidney. Assumed sources of heavy metals are geological ground, sediments and water in the floodplain, dust emissions from the road traffic, improper waste disposal and use of agricultural chemicals.

mercury ; heavy metal ; badger ; pollution

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