Results
Title

Analysis of Environmental Contamination by Metals Using Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Hair as a Biomonitor: An Appraisal.

Authors

Canova, Luca; Maraschi, Federica; Profumo, Antonella; Sturini, Michela

Abstract

This study assessed environmental metal and metalloids (TE) levels using hair of Apodemus sylvaticus as a non-lethal biomonitor. TE decreased as follows: Zn > Al > Fe > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Mn > Cd > Se > As > Hg; TE widely distributed in soils as Zn, Al, Fe, and Cu, are more abundant than those of ecotoxicological interest, such as Cd, Se, As and Hg. Cd, Pb, Cu, and Cr concentrations are highly variable, while Zn, Fe, and Mn are less variable. TE in hair are below the threshold levels in soil and decrease the same way in both sexes. Concentrations in soil and hair are significantly related, and their level can be modulated both by homeostatic control of essential metals and absorbance from the soil by keratin. Slight differences in Ni and Cr can be related to the differing behaviour of males and females during reproduction. A scarce tendency toward mercury bioaccumulation has been observed in both sex and age classes; from an ecological point of view, these data suggest that the species is a primary consumer, feeding more on the leaves and seeds than on small invertebrates.

Subjects

COPPER; APODEMUS; POLLUTION; FOLIAR feeding; ENVIRONMENTAL sciences; TRACE elements

Publication

Environments (2076-3298), 2024, Vol 11, Issue 12, p281

ISSN

2076-3298

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.3390/environments11120281