Medycyna Wet. 64 (9), 1129-1131, 2008
Kośla T., Skibniewska E.M., Skibniewski M.
Evaluation of cadmium content in the kidneys and liver of European bisons from the Bałowieża forest
The aim of the performed investigations was to evaluate the cadmium content in the kidneys and liver of free-living European bisons in the Białowieża forest. The cadmium content was determined in the kidneys and livers of 20 animals (14 females, 6 males; 15 calves of up to one year of age and 5 animals older than 2 years). Cadmium was analysed by the ICP-OES method in an accredited laboratory; after homogenisation, samples were mineralised in a microwave apparatus in Teflon® containers, under pressure in nitric acid. The obtained results are presented in Tables 1-3. The mean value of cadmium in the kidneys amounted to 1.82 and in the liver to 0.83 mg/kg of fresh tissue. No significant sex-dependant differences were observed. However, significant differences were noted depending on the animal’s age, older animals cumulating more cadmium both in the kidneys and liver.
Keywords: cadmium, European bison, kidney, liver