Journal of Natural Environment

Study of Cu, Zn and Cr accumulation in hair and liver tissues of the Persian Jird (Meriones persicus) in Darreh Zereshk, Yazd

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Rodents are sensitive species to and proper monitors of heavy metals in the environment. The accumulation of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and chrome (Cr) were measured by wet digestion method and using an ICP-OES instrument in hair and liver of Persian Jird (Meriones persicus) in Darreh Zereshk copper mine, Yazd without considering the effects of surrounded mines. Results indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals in hair and liver were statistically different (P<0.01). The order of heavy metal concentrations in tissues was as Zn>Cu>Cr. Significant differences were observed between heavy metals concentrations of both tissues in males and females (P<0.01). The results of Pearson correlation showed that there were no significant differences between the accumulation of heavy metals in tissues (P>0.05), therefore regression equation cannot be established between them. Due to the lack of significant differences between hair and liver, hair cannot be easily applied as a proper bioindicator of measured heavy metals in the liver, and its application needs further research. Differences in the accumulation of heavy metals in liver and hair of different sexes of Persian Jird indicate that sex plays an important role in the accumulation of heavy metals in this species and must be noticed in forthcoming studies.

Keywords

  1. Beernaert, J., Schiers, J., Leirs, H., Blust, R., Van Hagen, R., 2007. Non-destructive pollution exposure assessment by means of wood mice hair. Environment Pollution 145, 443–51.
  2. Bergeron, J.M., 1976. Elements mineraux du regime alimentaire du campagnol des champs, Microbus pennsylvanicus Ord. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 54, 1565-70. (In French).
  3. Bergeron, J.M., Juliet, J., 1979. L'alimentationestivale du campagnol des champs, Microtus pennsylvanicus Ord. Canadian Journal of Zoology 57, 2028-32. (In French).
  4. Bla´zovics, A., Abaza, M., Sı´pos, P., Szemtmiha´lyi, K., Fehe´r, E., Szila´gyi, M., 2002. Biochemical and morphological changes in liverand gallbladder bile of broiler chicken exposed to heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury). Trace Elements and Electrolytes 19(1), 42-47.
  5. Carral, E., Puente, X., Villares, R., Carballeira, A., 1995. Background heavy metal sediments and organisms in Galicia (northwest Spain) as determined by modal analysis levels in estuarine. Science of the Total Environment 172, 175–188.
  6. Damek-Poprawa, M., Sawicka-Kapusta, K., 2004. Histopathological changes in the liver, kidneys, and testes of bank voles environmentally exposed to heavy metal emissions from the steelworks and zinc smelter in Poland. Environmental research 96(1), 72-78.
  7. D'Havé, H., Scheirs, J., Mubiana, V.K., Verhagen, R., Blust, R., DeCoen,W., 2006. Non-destructive pollution exposure assessment in the European hedgehog (Erinaceuse uropaeus): II. Hair and spines as indicators of endogenous metal and As concentrations. Environmental Pollution 142, 438–48.
  8. Filistowicz, A., Dobrzański, Z., Przysiecki, P., Nowicki, S., Filistowicz, A., 2011. Concentration of heavy metals in hair and skin of silver and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Environmental monitoring and assessment 182(1-4), 477-484.
  9. Hammer, D.T., Finklea, J.F., Hendricks, R.H., Shy, C.M., Minners, T.A., Roggan, W.B., 1971. Trace metals in human hair as a simple epidemiologic monitor of environmental exposure. American Journal of Epidemiology 93, 84-92.
  10. Haschek, W.M., Rousseaux, C.G., 1998. Fundamentals of Toxicological Pathology. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.
  11. Ikemoto, T., Kunito, T., Watanabe, I., Yasunaga, G., Baba, N., Miyazaki, N.,Petrov, E.A., Tanabe, S., 2004. Comparison of trace element accumulationin Baikal seals (Pusasibirica), Caspian seals (Pusa caspica) and northern fur seals (Callorhin usursinus). Environmental Pollution 127, 83-97.
  12. Martiniaková, M., 2010. Yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) as zoomonitors of environmental contamination at a polluted area in Slovakia. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 52, 1-58.
  13. Medvedev, N., Panichev, N., Hyva¨rinen, H., 1997. Levels of metals in seals of Lake Ladoga and the White Sea. Science of the Total Environment 206, 95-105.
  14. Minamia, T., Yamazakia, H., Ohamab, N., City, H. O., 2009. Accumulation of heavy metals in the organs of wild rodents. Environmental Pollution 21, 11-17.
  15. Mugford, C.A., Kedderis, G.L., 1998. Sex dependent metabolism of xenobiotics. Drug Metabolism Review 30, 441–498.
  16. Muramatsu, Y., Parr, R.M., 1988. Concentrations of some trace elements in hair, liver and kidney from autopsy objects Relationships between hair and internal organs. Science of the Total Environment 76, 29-40.
  17. Pankakoski, E, 1993. Accumulation of heavy metals in the mole in Finland. Environmental Pollution 80, 9-16.
  18. Pereira, R., Pereira, M. L., Ribeiro, R., Gonzales, F, 2006. Tissues and hair residues and histopathology in wild rats (Rattus rattus L.) and Algerian mice (Muss pretus) from an abandoned mine area (Southeast Portugal). Environmental Pollution, 139(3), 561-575.
  19. Pooya Mohit Planning Company, 2012. The report of environment impact assessment of Darreh zereshk copper mine, 570.
  20. Sánchez-Chardi, A., Ciro Alberto, O.R., Jacint, N., 2009. Metals in liver and kidneys and the effects of chronic exposure to pyrite mine pollution in the shrew Crocid urarussula inhabiting the protected wetland of Doñana. Chemosphere 76, 387-394.
  21. Sánchez-Chardi, A., Nadal, J., 2007. Bioaccumulation of metals and effects of landfill pollution in small mammals. Part I. The greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidurarussula. Chemosphere 68, 703 –711.
  22. Sawicka-Kapusta, K., Zakrzewska, M., Kowalska, A., Lenda, B., Skrobacz, M., 1995. Heavy metalconcentrations in small mammals from Borecka forest. Arch. Ochr. Środ. 3,229–234
  23. Schleich, C. E., Beltrame, M. O., Antenucci, C. D., 2010. Heavy metals accumulation in the subterranean rodent Ctenomy stalarum (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) from areas with different risk of contamination. Folia Zoology 59, 108-114.
  24. Shukla, G.S., Kalia, K., Mathur, N., Chandra, S.V., 1988. Age dependent distribution and retention of cadmium in the selected organs of rat. Chemosphere 17, 661-670.
  25. Silva, A.M.M., Novelli, E.L.B., Fascineli, M.L., Almeida, J.A., 1999. Impact of an environmentally realistic intake of water contaminants and superoxide formation on tissues of rats. Environmental Pollution 105, 243-249.
  26. Šumbera, R., Baruš, V., Tenora, F., 2003. Heavy metals in the silvery mole-rat, Heliophobiusar genteocinereus (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from Malawi. Folia Zoology 52, 149–153.
  27. Talmage, S.S., Walton, B.T., 1991. Small mammals as monitors of environmental contaminants. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 119, 47-145.
  28. Tovar-Sánchez, E., Cervantes, L.T., Martínez, C., Rojas, E., Valverde, M., Ortiz-Hernández, M.L., Mussali-Galante, P., 2012. Comparison of two wild rodent species as sentinels of environmental contamination by mine tailings. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 19(5), 1677-1686.
  29. Yigit, N., Colak, E., 1999. Study of A study of the Taxonomy and Karyology of Meriones persicus (Blanford, 1875) (Mammalia:Rodentia) in Turkey. Turkish Journal Zoology 23, 269-274.
  30. Yoshinaga, J., Imai, H., Nakazawa, M., Morita, M., 1990. Lack of significantly positive relationships between elemental concentrations in hair and inorgans. Science of the Total Environment 99, 125-135.
  31. Ziaie, H., 2008. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Iran. Press, Iran ildlife Center, 416 p. (In Persian).
Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 68, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2016
Pages 549-557