Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus</i>) Hair as a Bioindicator for the Environmental Presence of Toxic and Trace Elements
Susanna Draghi,
Stella Agradi,
Federica Riva,
Duygu Tarhan,
Bengü Bilgiç,
Banu Dokuzeylül,
Alev Meltem Ercan,
Mehmet Erman Or,
Gabriele Brecchia,
Daniele Vigo,
Francesco Arioli,
Federica Di Cesare,
Giulio Curone
Affiliations
Susanna Draghi
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Stella Agradi
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Federica Riva
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Duygu Tarhan
Biophysics Department, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Topkapı, Turgut Ozal Millet Cd, Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
Bengü Bilgiç
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul Universitesi Avcılar Kampusu, Baglariçi Cd. No:7, Avcılar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey
Banu Dokuzeylül
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul Universitesi Avcılar Kampusu, Baglariçi Cd. No:7, Avcılar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey
Alev Meltem Ercan
Biophysics Department, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Topkapı, Turgut Ozal Millet Cd, Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
Mehmet Erman Or
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul Universitesi Avcılar Kampusu, Baglariçi Cd. No:7, Avcılar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey
Gabriele Brecchia
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Daniele Vigo
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Francesco Arioli
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Federica Di Cesare
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Giulio Curone
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
The return to pasture use as an alternative to intensive livestock farming implies some risks with the lack or the excessive presence of potentially toxic elements; in this regard, wild animals have been used as bioindicators for decades. Thus, the purpose of this study is quantifying Cu, Cr, Mn, Zn, Se, As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Al, Fe, and Mg in fur from roe deer and understanding if it is a valid bioindicator tool. Hair was collected from 39 hunted roe deer and divided by age (p p < 0.05) in older animals; and Cu, Fe, Mg, Cd, and Cr showed a higher accumulation in females. Our findings showed an age-related variation of elements, with higher concentrations in adult animals and females. In conclusion, our findings prove that hair is a valid matrix for this type of survey, and wild animals are good bioindicators for monitoring the presence of trace elements in pastures.
