Selenium Content in Selected Organs of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) as a Criterion to Evaluate Environmental Abundance of this Element in Poland

Abstract

Due to the fact that a considerable part of Europe, including some regions of Poland, isconsidered to be deficient in selenium, it seems necessary to develop a selenium map for different regions of Poland, which will be used in future to prepare a prophylaxis programme against selenium deficiency inanimals. The aim of the study was to determine selenium content in selected organs (liver and kidneys) of roe deer from different regions of Poland as an indirect method of assessing environmental abundance of this element. Material for the study was collected from 28 sites located in 15 provinces of Poland. Seleniumconcentrations in organs were determined using spectrofluorometric methods. Mean selenium concentration in roe deer from Poland was 0.088 μg/g wet weight (w.w.) in liver and 0.503 μg/g w.w. in kidneys. Organ selenium concentrations in the studied animals varied considerably according to geographical location. Most areas of Poland are deficient in environmental selenium, as evidenced by the low content of this element in the organs of roe deer.