This is the first report on mercury (Hg) levels in the liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, and brain of raccoon in Europe. It studied Hg concentration in 24 raccoons from the Warta Mouth National Park, ...northwestern Poland by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The highest total Hg concentrations in the raccoon were found in the liver (maximum, 18.45 mg/kg dry weight), while the lowest in the brain (maximum, 0.49 mg/kg dw). In adult raccoons, Hg concentrations in the liver, kidney, and brain were higher than in immature individuals (p < 0.001), while similar in skeletal muscle in both age groups. Our results are consistent with studies by other authors conducted in North America in areas with similar environmental conditions.
In the following article, two two-lane expressways were studied: S6 - bypass of Nowogard and S10 - bypass of Stargard, both located in Western Pomerania, Poland. Soil samples were taken from 0-30 cm ...deep layer from direct surrounding of a roadway (up to 1 meter) - D, aswell as in a 20 meter distance from a roadway - K, in previously set places. In taken samples, the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn are evaluated. Based on the chemical analysis, it has been shown that analysed soil samples from studied by-passes are characterized by diversified average concentrations of heavy metals, depending on the place of sampling. However, none of the concentrations of chosen heavy metals have exceeded threshold values, according to Regulation of the Minister of Environment dated 09 September 2002 on soil quality standards and quality standards of soil (Journal of Laws 2002 No 165, item 1359) for industrial areas, mining grounds and transportation areas.
Two mid-field ponds located in the agricultural catchment was chosen for the investigations. Total of 24 samples of bottom sediments were collected. The samples were taken from sediment layers: 0–5 ...(W1), 5–10 (W2), 10–20 (W3) and 20–30 (W4) cm, with three points at once during the 2014 winter period. Mercury content in the samples was determined by analyzer AMA 254. Higher pH (active acidity) was recorded in sediments in pond located in a rural park than pond located within agricultural crops. Bottom sediment in mid-field pond (No. 1) had higher values of organic carbon averaging 22.70% than in the pond located in a rural park (No. 2), where organic carbon content averaged 4.59%. The mercury content in bottom sediments ranged from 0.02 to 0.41 mg ⋅ kg-1. The examined sediments were classified (at points P1, P2, P3 and P4) as uncontaminated sediments (Class I) and at points S1 and S2 were classified as moderately polluted sediments (Class II). Bottom sediments classified as class I and II can be disposed in the aquatic and terrestrial environments. Mercury concentrations in samples collected from both banks of the pond No. 1 and 2 differ significantly (Tukey test p ≤ 0.05) than those in the samples collected from central part of the ponds. Chemical analysis of the individual layers of bottom sediments in ponds showed that the largest accumulation of mercury occurred in a layer W1 (0–5 cm) in pond No. 2 (at point S2).
For many years the American mink (
Neovison vison
) has been used in North America (where it originates from) as a sensitive indirect bioindicator in assessing the degree of mercury (Hg) ...contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The aim of this paper was the determination of total concentrations of Hg in the liver and kidneys of feral and ranch mink from the Warta Mouth National Park (WMNP) and from farms located in northwestern Poland, for comparison with similar data on American mink from North America. In road-killed feral mink from the WMNP, the mean concentrations were 11.8 and 14.1 mg/kg dry weight in the liver and kidney, respectively. Mean Hg concentrations in feral mink were from 240 to 90 times higher in these two respective tissues than in ranch mink. The feral mink from northwestern Poland had concentrations of hepatic and nephric Hg similar to the highest concentrations that have been recorded over the past several decades in wild American mink from certain areas of Canada and the USA.
The aim of this study was to a) evaluate the concentration of Se and Hg and their relationship in the tissues of 4 species of wild mammals, including Se:Hg molar ratios, and b) evaluate the effect of ...the analysed elements and their mutual proportions expressed as Se:Hg molar ratio, on the antioxidant system in the tissues of the tested animals. The study was performed on 31 animals belonging to four species: wild boar, red fox, roe deer, brown hare. Determination of Hg in liver, kidney and muscle of animals was performed using an AMA 254 mercury analyser. Total Se concentrations were determined using the spectrofluorometric method.
In omnivores demonstrated higher Se concentrations in all analysed organs compared to the herbivores. The highest concentration of Hg was found in the kidneys of the tested animals, and the lowest in the muscles. High and moderate correlation between Se and Hg was observed in the liver of omnivorous, while in herbivores this correlation was weak. In all analysed samples, the Se:Hg molar ratios were above 1 (min: liver 5.9, max: kidney 110). Generally, the highest Se:Hg ratio values were found in kidney and the lowest in liver of tested animals. No significant correlation was found between GPx, GST and SOD activity and Se or Hg concentration in analysed organs. But it was observed that Se:Hg molar was negatively correlated with CAT activity in the most samples.
The obtained results may suggest that omnivorous animals demonstrate greater Hg sequestration in the liver than herbivores, which has been proposed as one of the mechanisms of Se antagonistic action towards Hg. The ratio between Se and Hg, rather than the concentration of these elements in organs, affected the antioxidant status in the animal organism, specifically the CAT activity.
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•Se:Hg molar ratios were above 1 in all analysed samples.•Strong correlation between Se and Hg was observed in the liver of omnivores.•Se and Hg concentration didn't affect an antioxidant enzymes activity in tissues.•Se:Hg molar ratio was negatively correlated with CAT activity in the most tissues.
Celem pracy była ocena wpływu Zakładów Chemicznych „Police” S. A. (Grupa Azoty) na zawartość S, N, C, Mg, K, Ca, Na, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni i Zn ogółem w drugorocznych szpilkach sosny ...zwyczajnej (Pinus sylvestris), w rokietniku pospolitym (Pleurozium schreberi) oraz w glebie. Próbki pozyskano wiosną 2013 roku na siedliskach borowych. Całkowitą zawartość Hg oznaczono za pomocą analizatora rtęci AMA 254. Zawartość S, N i C ogółem oznaczono analizatorem elementarnym CHNS firmy COSTECH. Zawartość pozostałych pierwiastków oznaczono spektrometrem absorpcji atomowej ASA iCE 3000. Najwyższa zawartość rtęci w szpilkach sosny (0,06 mg • kg-1 suchej masy) i w mchu (0,07 mg • kg-1 suchej masy) była podobna. Wartości pH gleby były charakterystyczne dla gleb rdzawych i wynosiły: pH-KCl 3,13-4,39; pH-H2O 3,69-5,14 (gleby silnie kwaśne). Zawartość Zn, Pb, Ni, Hg, Fe, Cu i Cr była wyższa w mchu niż w szpilkach sosny. Zawartość Pb w mchu (3,13 mg • kg-1 s. m.) była kilka razy wyższa niż w szpilkach Pinus sylvestris (0,073-0,817 mg • kg-1 s.m.). Nie stwierdzono zanieczyszczenia gleb metalami ciężkimi. Stwierdzono prawie dwukrotną redukcję w akumulacji siarki w szpilkach sosny oraz w mchu na przestrzeni ostatnich 20 lat.
The aim of this study was an evaluation of the influence of Chemical Works “Police” (“Grupa Azoty”) on total S, N, C, Mg, K, Ca, Na Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni and Zn concentrations in II-year-old ...needles of Pinus sylvestris L., Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. and soil samples. The research material was collected in spring 2013 in the coniferous habitats. The total Hg content was determined by Mercury Analyzer AMA 254. The total content of S, N and C was analysed by COSTECH CHNS elementary analyser. The total content of other elements was determined using atomic absorption spectrometer ASA iCE 3000. The highest mercury content was similar in pine needles (0.06 mg • kg
d. w.) and in moss (0.07 mg • kg
d. w.). The soil samples pH value was typical for rusty soils, in which the obtained pH-KCl value was 3.13-4.39 and pH-H
O was 3.69-5.14 (extreme acid soils). The Zn, Pb, Ni, Hg, Fe, Cu and Cr concentrations were higher in moss than in needles. The content of Pb in Pleurozium schreberi (3.13 mg • kg
d. w.) was few times higher than in Pinus sylvestris needles (0.073- 0.817 mg • kg
d. w.). The soil contamination with heavy metals was not observed. There has been almost a double reduction of sulphur content in pine needles and moss over last 20 years.
Celem pracy była ocena wpływu Zakładów Chemicznych „Police” S. A. (Grupa Azoty) na zawartość S, N, C, Mg, K, Ca, Na, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni i Zn ogółem w drugorocznych szpilkach sosny zwyczajnej (Pinus sylvestris), w rokietniku pospolitym (Pleurozium schreberi) oraz w glebie. Próbki pozyskano wiosną 2013 roku na siedliskach borowych. Całkowitą zawartość Hg oznaczono za pomocą analizatora rtęci AMA 254. Zawartość S, N i C ogółem oznaczono analizatorem elementarnym CHNS firmy COSTECH. Zawartość pozostałych pierwiastków oznaczono spektrometrem absorpcji atomowej ASA iCE 3000. Najwyższa zawartość rtęci w szpilkach sosny (0,06 mg • kg
suchej masy) i w mchu (0,07 mg • kg
suchej masy) była podobna. Wartości pH gleby były charakterystyczne dla gleb rdzawych i wynosiły: pH-KCl 3,13-4,39; pH-H
O 3,69-5,14 (gleby silnie kwaśne). Zawartość Zn, Pb, Ni, Hg, Fe, Cu i Cr była wyższa w mchu niż w szpilkach sosny. Zawartość Pb w mchu (3,13 mg • kg
s. m.) była kilka razy wyższa niż w szpilkach Pinus sylvestris (0,073-0,817 mg • kg
s.m.). Nie stwierdzono zanieczyszczenia gleb metalami ciężkimi. Stwierdzono prawie dwukrotną redukcję w akumulacji siarki w szpilkach sosny oraz w mchu na przestrzeni ostatnich 20 lat.
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