Toxic and essential metal levels in the hair of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) for monitoring the contamination in protected areas of South-Western Spain

Publicado en: Oropesa, AL., Ramos, A. & Gómez, LJ. Toxic and essential metal levels in the hair of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) for monitoring the contamination in protected areas of South-Western Spain. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 27430–27442 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16439-0

Contaminant monitoring in tissues of wild species can help in the knowledge not only of their health, but also of the environ mental health conditions in the zones where they live. In this study, concentrations of toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) and an essential metal (Zn) were measured in the hair of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) inhabiting in protected areas of South-Western Spain. Zn (69.02 ± 1.03 mg kg−1 , 70.31 ± 2.22 mg kg−1), Pb (0.61 ± 0.05 mg kg−1, 0.68 ± 0.08 mg kg−1), and As (0.33 ± 0.03 mg kg−1 , 0.53 ± 0.08 mg kg−1) were detected in the hair of red deer and wild boar, respectively. The other metals (Cd and Hg) were under the quantification limit (0.1 mg kg−1). No differences in the level of elements between both species were found. The levels of the detected elements in the hair showed low concentrations and similar to those observed in animals of the same species from unpolluted zones, reflecting a lack of contamination by these elements in the studied areas. Based on critical values of these elements established for organs of mammals, red deer and wild boar from the studied territories did not suffer toxicosis by the studied elements. Age-related differences in the content of As in the hair of red deer and age- and gender-related differences in the content of As in the hair of wild boar were detected, which should be considered for biomon itoring purposes. Finally, positive (Pb-As in both species) and negative (Zn-Pb in wild boar) interrelationships between elements were found.

This research was in part supported by Extremadura Community through Consejería de Economía, Competitividad e Innovación (Project IB16079; role: collection of samples and review of translation of the report) and Consejería de Economía, Ciencia y Agenda Digital (Support GR18080), and FEDER Funds (role: chemical analysis and review of the report translation).