Trace elements in reindeer from Rybatsjij Ostrov, north western Russia

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Authors: Aksel Bernhoft, Thor Waaler, Svein D. Mathiesen, Arne Flåøyen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2002
• Subjects: Rangifer tarandus; liver; trace elements; arsenic; cadmium; chromium; Animal culture; SF1-1100; North-Western Russia; Rangifer
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.22.1.690; https://doaj.org/article/bedc8f4abd0a47bfb5bdd828aa0832e6

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) grazing the Rybatsjij Ostrov peninsula, north western Russia, northeast of the industrial towns of Nikel and Zapoljarnij, were analysed for hepatic concentrations of trace elements [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)] by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The median (range) concentrations (jig/g wet weight) deter¬mined in liver samples from 40 reindeer with even sex ratio and representation from different age classes were As 0.035 (0.017-0.048), Cd 0.34 (0.15-1.2), Cr 0.008 (<0.002-0.022), Co 0.09 (0.06-0.12), Cu 98 (29-220), Pb 0.56 (0.23-1.0), Hg 0.16 (0.08-0.31), Ni 0.027 (<0.020-0.13), Se 0.88 (0.56-1.3) and Zn 37 (24-105). The concentrations of Cd increased and Ni decreased with age. The measured liver concentrations were below levels of toxicological sig¬nificance to the animals. It can be inferred that there is no risk with the measured trace elements to human health associated with the consumption of meat from these reindeer.