Abstract
Total body concentrations of cadmium in two small mammal species from a revegetated metalliferous mine site were significantly higher than those from an uncontaminated control site. Total body and tissue concentrations of the herbivorous Microtus agrestis L. and the insectivorous Sorex araneus L. were related to the cadmium concentrations of their estimated diets. The environmental mobility and bioaccumulation potential of cadmium have been demonstrated by the highly elevated cadmium concentrations of soft tissues in S. araneus and its estimated diet at the mine site. The principal target organ for cadmium accumulation was kidney in M. agrestis at both sites and S. araneus at the control site, but the liver adopted this rôle with the higher body concentrations in S. araneus from the mine site. Possible ecological consequences for animal populations of chronic exposure to elevated environmental levels of cadmium on contaminated sites are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 153-162 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Environmental Pollution. Series A, Ecological and Biological |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1 1984 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Environmental Science(all)
- Pollution
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)