Heavy Metals in Brown Bears from the Central European Carpathians

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal load in the brown bear (Ursus arctos) living in the central European Carpathians. Between 2002 and 2004, fifteen bears were examined to evaluate the distribution of cadmium, lead, mercury and copper in the animals' muscles (diaphragm), spleen, liver and kidney. The highest content of cadmium, lead and mercury was found in the kidney (17.4 ± 5.2 mg kg-1, 1.16 ± 0.39 mg kg-1, 0.39 ± 0.25 mg kg-1), whereas the lowest content of the metals was observed in the muscles (0.017 ± 0.009 mg kg-1, 0.299 ± 0.308 mg kg-1, 0.013 ± 0.011 mg kg-1). Second highest concentration of cadmium, lead and mercury was detected in the liver (0.83 ± 0.24 mg kg-1, 0.99 ± 0.61 mg kg-1, 0.11 ± 0.05 mg kg-1). Copper distributions and concentrations in bear tissues were as follows (in descending order): liver (23.9 ± 6.7 mg kg-1), > kidneys (9.0 ± 3.3 mg kg-1), > muscles (1.9 ± 1.6 mg kg-1) and > spleen (1.0 ± 0.2 mg kg-1). As compared with heavy metal load observed in bear tissues between 1988 and 1990, the concentration of cadmium in the muscles and liver was significantly lower (p < 0.01). On the contrary, mercury values were significantly higher in the liver (p < 0.05), kidney and muscle (p < 0.01). Lead and copper tissue concentrations did not change substantially.