Talmage S S, Walton B T
Health and Safety Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831-6050.
Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 1991;119:47-145. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4612-3078-6_2.
The merit of using small mammals as monitors of environmental contaminants was assessed using data from the published literature. Information was located on 35 species of small mammals from 7 families used to monitor heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic chemicals at mine sites, industrial areas, hazardous and radioactive waste disposal sites, and agricultural and forested land. To document foodchain transfer of chemicals, concentrations in soil, vegetation, and invertebrates, where available, were included. The most commonly trapped North American species were Peromyscus leucopus, Blarina brevicauda, and Microtus pennsylvanicus. In these species, exposure to chemicals was determined from tissue residue analyses, biochemical assays, and cytogenetic assays. Where enough information was available, suitable target tissues, or biological assays for specific chemicals were noted. In general, there was a relationship between concentrations of contaminants in the soil or food, and concentrations in target tissues of several species. This relationship was most obvious for the nonessential heavy metals, cadmium, lead, and mercury and for fluoride. Kidney was the single best tissue for residue analyses of inorganic contaminants. However, bone should be the tissue of choice for both lead and fluorine. Exposure to lead was also successfully documented using biochemical and histopathological endpoints. Bone was the tissue of choice for exposure to 90Sr, whereas muscle was an appropriate tissue for 137Cs. For organic contaminants, exposure endpoints depended on the chemical(s) of concern. Liver and whole-body residue analyses, as well as enzyme changes, organ histology, genotoxicity, and, in one case, population dynamics, were successfully used to document exposure to these contaminants. Based on information in these studies, each species' suitability as a monitor for a specific contaminant or type of contaminant was evaluated and subsequently ranked. A relationship between contaminant exposure and trophic level emerged. Insectivores (shrews) had the highest levels of contaminants, followed by omnivores (cricetid mice) with intermediate levels, and herbivores (voles) with the lowest levels. A substantial number of these biomonitoring studies using small mammals collectively point to the importance of food habits and habitat of small mammals, and their availability and abundance as factors that should influence species selection for monitoring studies. The type of contaminants under consideration as well as the appropriateness of the endpoints selected are important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to include small mammals in biomonitoring studies.
利用已发表文献中的数据，评估了将小型哺乳动物用作环境污染物监测指标的价值。收集了来自7个科的35种小型哺乳动物的信息，这些动物被用于监测矿区、工业区、危险和放射性废物处置场以及农业和林地中的重金属、放射性核素和有机化学品。为了记录化学物质在食物链中的转移情况，还纳入了土壤、植被和无脊椎动物（如有）中的化学物质浓度。北美最常捕获的物种是白足鼠、短尾鼩鼱和宾夕法尼亚田鼠。对于这些物种，通过组织残留分析、生化测定和细胞遗传学测定来确定其对化学物质的暴露情况。在有足够信息的情况下，记录了适合特定化学物质的靶组织或生物测定方法。一般来说，土壤或食物中污染物的浓度与几种物种靶组织中的浓度之间存在关联。这种关联对于非必需重金属镉、铅和汞以及氟化物最为明显。肾脏是无机污染物残留分析的最佳单一组织。然而，对于铅和氟，骨骼应是首选组织。利用生化和组织病理学终点也成功记录了铅暴露情况。骨骼是90锶暴露的首选组织，而肌肉是137铯的合适组织。对于有机污染物，暴露终点取决于所关注的化学物质。肝脏和全身残留分析，以及酶变化、器官组织学、遗传毒性，在一个案例中还包括种群动态，都成功用于记录对这些污染物的暴露情况。根据这些研究中的信息，评估并随后对每个物种作为特定污染物或污染物类型监测指标的适用性进行了排名。污染物暴露与营养级之间出现了一种关系。食虫动物（鼩鼱）的污染物水平最高，其次是杂食动物（仓鼠科小鼠），其水平中等，而食草动物（田鼠）的水平最低。大量使用小型哺乳动物的这些生物监测研究共同表明，小型哺乳动物的食性、栖息地以及它们的可获得性和丰富度作为影响监测研究物种选择的因素的重要性。在决定是否将小型哺乳动物纳入生物监测研究时，所考虑的污染物类型以及所选终点的适当性是重要的考虑因素。
