Accumulation of risk elements in kidney, liver, testis, uterus and bone of free-living wild rodents from a polluted area in Slovakia

Abstract

Free-living wild rodents are usually used as indicators of pollution, with elements being determined in either whole body or in specific organs. In the present study, the accumulation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in kidney, liver, testis, uterus and bone of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) trapped in a polluted area of Nováky, Slovakia was investigated. Yellow-necked mice and bank voles were collected using standard theriological methods for wood ecosystems. All animals were adults in good physical condition. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn in all analyzed organs were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The highest concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in the bone of both species while Cu and Fe accumulated most in the uterus. Significantly higher concentrations of Cd and Cu were detected in the liver of the bank vole in comparison with the yellow-necked mouse (P<0.05). Similar significantly higher levels of Cd and Zn were found in the bone of the bank vole (P<0.05) than in the yellow-necked mouse, while these rodents had significantly higher Cu and Fe concentrations (P<0.05) in the kidney. Significantly higher levels of Fe and Zn were detected in the testis and uterus of bank voles, respectively. On the other hand, significantly higher concentration of Cu was found in the testis of yellow-necked mice. Results of this study suggest that bank voles are more sensitive heavy metal loaded bioindicators than yellow-necked mice.