Heavy metals in the silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from Malawi | Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)

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Citation
Tags

HERO ID

6692601

Reference Type

Journal Article

Title

Heavy metals in the silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from Malawi

Author(s)

Sumbera, R; Barus, V; Tenora, F

Year

2003

Is Peer Reviewed?

Yes

Journal

Folia Zoologica
ISSN: 0139-7893

Publisher

INST VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY AS CR

Location

BRNO

Volume

Issue

Page Numbers

149-153

Web of Science Id

WOS:000183991900006

Abstract

Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were assessed in body tissues of a solitary subterranean rodent, the silvery mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) from the African endemic family Bathyergidae. The mean concentrations of cooper and zinc in animals captured in Malawi were higher in liver compared to muscle (18.3 mg.kg(-1) vs. 8.8 mg.kg(-1) of dry weight for copper; 170.3 mg.kg(-1) vs. 101.2 mg.kg(-1) for zinc). No important differences were found in concentration of heavy metals between animals captured in different habitats (grassland vs. cultivated crops) or between sexes. Very low concentrations of lead (0.41 mg.kg(-1) in liver, 0.25 mg.kg(-1) in muscle) and cadmium (0.09 mg.kg(-1) in liver, 0.07 mg.kg(-1) in muscle) indicate no health risk connected with local consumption of silvery mole-rats in the area under study.

Keywords

heavy metals; subterranean rodent; Heliophobius; bioaccumulation