Italian Journal of Animal Science (Jan 2010)

Heavy metal concentrations in the liver of two wild duck species: influence of species and gender

  • Tihomir Florijančić,
  • Mario Škrivanko,
  • Zlatko Puškadija,
  • Irena Listeš,
  • Tanja Bogdanović,
  • Siniša Ozimec,
  • Dinko Jelkić,
  • Anđelko Opačak,
  • Ivica Bošković

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2009.s3.222
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3s
pp. 222 – 224

Abstract

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The risk of wild ducks exposure to heavy metals in the environment was assessed by analyzing 20 wild ducks shot in the hunting area at the fish farm in Donji Miholjac, Eastern Croatia. Liver samples obtained from 10 Mallards and 10 Common Pochards were examined for heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Hg) by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Significant difference in heavy metal content between analyzed species was confirmed only for Cd (P≤0.01), and no differences were found between genders within species. The results obtained suggest the importance of wild ducks as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution, especially Common Pochard for Cd, and Mallard for Pb accumulation.

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