Concentrations of trace and other elements in the organs of wild rats and birds from the Northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01688258· OSTI ID:5138494

Kapu, M M; Schaeffer, D J ^[1]; Akanya, H O ^[2]; Ega, R A; Olofu, E O; Balarabe, M L ^[3]; Chafe, U M ^[4]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana (United States)
2. Federal Univ. of Technology, Minna (Nigeria)
3. Ahmadu Bello Univ., Zaria (Nigeria)
4. Usmanu Danfodiyo Univ., Sokota (Nigeria)

In regions of human activities, where metal enter local aquatic ecosystems from the atmosphere and through wastewater outfalls, metal concentrations in food chains can exceed natural background levels and be above the threshold levels for sensitive species. Accordingly, metal levels in the organs and tissues of livestock and wildlife have been extensively studied. However, there are no reports of metal concentrations in the organs and tissues of wild animals from the Northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. The mole rat (Africanthus niloticus, L) and village weaver bird (Ploceus cucullatus, L) contribute significantly to farm crop losses from sowing to harvest. Because there are no industries capable of causing metal contamination in the study area, the present study was undertaken to determine the natural baseline levels of metals for wild rats and birds from this environment.

• OSTI ID: 5138494
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States), Vol. 46:1; ISSN 0007-4861
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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