Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 May;26(14):14521-14533. doi: 10.1007/s11356-019-04507-5. Epub 2019 Mar 14.
Muscle, liver and kidney of 21 Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) from Mosor Mountain, Croatia, were sampled to quantify the activity of caesium and potassium radionuclides and five toxic and ten essential stabile elements in order to establish reference values for this species and to evaluate the potential of Barbary sheep tissues to reflect environmental pollution. We also assessed seasonal diet (botanical composition and dry matter content) of Barbary sheep based on analyses of a rumen content of culled animals. None of the 19 plant species (mostly grasses) identified as part of the Barbary sheep diet is known as a stabile element or radionuclide hyperaccumulator. Measured levels reflected low environmental pollution with arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, with levels generally less than those reported for wild herbivorous ungulates. Methodological differences (detection limit of elements in muscle) were shown to hamper interpretation and comparison of the Toxic Contamination Index (TCI) values with those published for other species. There was no homeostasis disturbance of trace elements in Barbary sheep, either due to inadequate intake via food or as an adverse effect due to a high toxic metal(loid) burden. Consumption of the muscle and liver of wild Barbary sheep can be considered safe for the health of adult consumers regarding toxic metal(loid)s and radioactive caesium, though the liver should be avoided as a food item in vulnerable population groups due to the possible adverse effects of cadmium and lead. Otherwise, muscle and liver are a rich source of copper, iron, selenium and zinc for consumers and, as such, can benefit the overall dietary intake of essential elements.
从克罗地亚莫索尔山采集了 21 只巴巴里绵羊（Ammotragus lervia）的肌肉、肝脏和肾脏，以量化铯和钾放射性核素以及五种有毒和十种必需稳定元素的活性，为该物种建立参考值，并评估巴巴里绵羊组织反映环境污染的潜力。我们还根据被淘汰动物的瘤胃内容物分析，评估了巴巴里绵羊的季节性饮食（植物组成和干物质含量）。作为巴巴里绵羊饮食一部分的 19 种植物（主要是草类）中，没有一种是已知的稳定元素或放射性核素超富集物。所测量的水平反映出砷、镉、汞和铅的环境污染程度较低，一般低于野生食草有蹄类动物的报告水平。方法上的差异（肌肉中元素的检测限）表明，难以解释和比较毒性污染指数（TCI）值与其他物种发表的值。巴巴里绵羊的微量元素没有出现内稳态紊乱，无论是由于食物中摄入不足还是由于高毒性金属（类）负荷的不良影响。对于成年消费者来说，食用野生巴巴里绵羊的肌肉和肝脏在有毒金属（类）和放射性铯方面是安全的，尽管由于镉和铅的可能不利影响，肝脏不应作为脆弱人群的食物。否则，肌肉和肝脏是铜、铁、硒和锌的丰富来源，对消费者有益，因此可以改善必需元素的整体饮食摄入。
