Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in rural and urbanized region

Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of silver and arctic foxes farmed in typically rural and urbanized regions (Wielkopolskie Voivodship, Poland) was assessed. Hair and skin samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hairs and skin of foxes fa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Czech Journal of Animal Science
Main Authors: Z. Dobrzański, A. Filistowicz, P. Przysiecki, S. Nowicki, K. Walkowiak, K. Czyż
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2014
Subjects:
farm
canidae
hair coat
environment
mercury level
poland
Animal culture
SF1-1100
Arctic
Vulpes lagopus
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.17221/7711-CJAS
https://doaj.org/article/8bc88d7d5e3b48d49c52db2370200353
Description
Summary:Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of silver and arctic foxes farmed in typically rural and urbanized regions (Wielkopolskie Voivodship, Poland) was assessed. Hair and skin samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hairs and skin of foxes farmed in the rural region accumulated higher amount of Hg compared to animals from the urbanized one. Species effect (lower Hg concentration in V. lagopus) was noted, females having higher accumulation compared with males. The highest Hg content was observed in hairs of V. vulpes females in the rural region (0.207 mg/kg on average), and in skin of V. lagopus females (0.0082 mg/kg on average). Highly significant correlation (r = 0.796) was noted between Hg content in skin and hairs of farm foxes. The present study confirms the previous finding that non-invasively collected hair samples are a good tool applicable in evaluating heavy metal load of different environments.

Similar Items