Red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) as biological indicator for environmental pollution in Hungary

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2012 Oct;89(4):910-4. doi: 10.1007/s00128-012-0755-z. Epub 2012 Aug 3.

Abstract

Our aim were to establish the metal (Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cd, and Pb) levels of red fox liver and the kidney samples (n = 10) deriving from central part of Hungary and compare the results with other countries' data. According to our results the concentrations of residues of the targeted elements (mg/kg dry weight) in liver and kidney samples were, respectively in liver: Cu: 21.418, Zn: 156.928, Ni: 2.079, Co: 1.611, Pb: 1.678 and Cd: 0.499; and kidney samples: Cu: 9.236; Zn: 87.159; Ni: 2.514; Co: 2.455; Pb: 2.63 and Cd: 0.818. Pb levels of Hungarian red fox liver samples significantly exceed the values of Italian specimens' samples, whilst the same element's concentrations of Hungarian red fox kidney samples were higher than the results published in Germany.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollution / statistics & numerical data
  • Foxes*
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Kidney / chemistry
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Male
  • Metals / analysis*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Metals