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Biol Trace Elem Res (2014) 159:152160 DOI 10.1007/s12011-014-9962-2
Mercury Levels in Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) from the Warta Mouth National Park, Northwestern Poland
Natalia Lanocha & Elzbieta Kalisinska &
Danuta I. Kosik-Bogacka & Halina Budis &
Joanna Podlasinska & Ewa Jedrzejewska
Received: 27 January 2014 /Accepted: 30 March 2014 /Published online: 16 April 2014 # The Author(s) 2014. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Abstract 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.
Keywords Environmental pollution . Mercury .
Northwestern Poland . Raccoon
Introduction
Mercury (Hg), in addition to lead and cadmium, is considered to be one of the most toxic trace metals. In 2005, global anthropogenic emissions of Hg to the atmosphere was estimated at 1,930 t, mostly in Asia (over 66 %), with much less in Europe and North America (8 % each) [1]. The total atmospheric emission of this element in Poland was estimated at almost 16 t in 2007 [2]. Biomagnified along the aquatic trophic chains, mercury reaches its highest concentrations in predatory fish, piscivorous birds, and mammals [35]. The estimated biomagnification results in low water Hg concentrations being multiplied in piscivores by 1 to 10 million times [6].
Mercury, especially methylmercury (MeHg), affects the function and development of the central nervous system in wildlife, resulting in a broad range of adverse health effects such as reproductive and behavioral problems. High Hg levels can be found in the habitats and food sources of many wildlife species. Mercury poisoning symptoms, mainly motor impairment, have been described in the American mink Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777), the Canadian otter Lontra canadensis (Schreber, 1777), and the red...