Heavy metal concentrations in livers and kidneys of the otter (Lutra lutra) from Central Europe

Nothing is known of the toxicological effects of low tissue levels of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper or mercury in otters. The study presents the effect of these metals from populations in Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic during 1989-1994. Levels of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper were low in kid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 1998-02, Vol.60 (2), p.273-279
Main Authors: GUTLEB, A. C, KRANZ, A, NECHAY, G, TOMAN, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Austria
Biological and medical sciences
Cadmium - chemistry
Czech Republic
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hungary
Kidney - chemistry
Lead - chemistry
Liver - chemistry
Lutra lutra
Mammalia
Mercury - chemistry
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Otters - metabolism
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Summary:Nothing is known of the toxicological effects of low tissue levels of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper or mercury in otters. The study presents the effect of these metals from populations in Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic during 1989-1994. Levels of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper were low in kidney and liver tissue. Cadmium did not exceed 4.6 ug per g in kidney and lead 3.5 ug per g in liver and kidney. These concentrations were below critical levels for mammal tissues. Zinc and copper levels were dependent on animal feeding demands. Levels were similar to those of otters from other European countries. Mercury levels were low in the liver and kidney of otters from Austria and Hungary and in the kidneys of otters from the Czech Republic, but they were much higher (15.2 and 55.6 ug per g) in the livers of 2 otters from the Czech Republic. Fish analysis was required to research into high mercury levels in the Czech Republic. The subtle long-term effects of low concentrations of heavy metals alone or in conjunction with other environmental contaminants remain unknown.
ISSN:0007-4861
1432-0800
DOI:10.1007/s001289900621