Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia de Vertebrados-PUC Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2012 Jun;147(1-3):97-102. doi: 10.1007/s12011-011-9303-7. Epub 2011 Dec 27.
In this study, we aimed to assess whether free-ranging wild canids are exposed to heavy metals in one of the most developed and populated regions of Brazil. Hair of 26 wild canids (maned wolves Chrysocyon brachyurus, crab-eating foxes Cerdocyon thous, and hoary foxes Lycalopex vetulus) from the Cerrado biome in Southeast Brazil were analyzed by spectrophotometry to detect cadmium, chromium, and lead, and also the essential copper, iron, manganese, and zinc traces. All samples showed traces of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Non-essential lead was detected in 57% (2.35 ± 0.99 mg/kg), and chromium in 88% (2.98 ± 1.56 mg/kg) of samples. Cadmium traces (detection limit 0.8 mg/kg) were not found. Crab-eating foxes had more copper, iron, and manganese in hair than maned wolves. Correlations among element levels differed between maned wolves and crab-eating foxes. Concentrations of chromium and lead were outstandingly higher than in wild canids from other areas. Addressing the causes of such levels and the impacts of the heavy metal pollution in Neotropical ecosystems is urgent for animal health and conservation purposes. We argue that heavy metal pollution should be considered as dangerous threats to wildlife health in Brazil and recommend hair sampling as a biomonitoring tool for heavy metals in Neotropical terrestrial mammals.
在这项研究中，我们旨在评估在巴西最发达和人口最多的地区之一，野生动物是否接触到重金属。本研究通过分光光度法分析了来自巴西东南部塞拉多生物群落的 26 只野生犬科动物（鬃狼 Chrysocyon brachyurus、食蟹狐 Cerdocyon thous 和鬃狼 Lycalopex vetulus）的毛发，以检测镉、铬和铅，以及必需的铜、铁、锰和锌痕量元素。所有样本均显示出铜、铁、锰和锌的痕迹。57%（2.35 ± 0.99 mg/kg）的样本中检测到非必需的铅，88%（2.98 ± 1.56 mg/kg）的样本中检测到铬。未发现镉痕迹（检测限 0.8 mg/kg）。食蟹狐的毛发中铜、铁和锰含量高于鬃狼。鬃狼和食蟹狐之间的元素水平之间存在相关性。铬和铅的浓度明显高于其他地区的野生犬科动物。解决这些水平的原因以及重金属污染对新热带生态系统的影响对于动物健康和保护目的至关重要。我们认为重金属污染应被视为巴西野生动物健康的危险威胁，并建议将毛发采样作为新热带陆地哺乳动物重金属的生物监测工具。
