Incidence of lead in livers of Illinois raccoons

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3798674· OSTI ID:5152783

Sanderson, G C; Thomas, R M

Concentrations of lead ranging from 1 to 32 ..mu..g. per gram were found in livers of 100 wild raccoons killed in Illinois by hunters and trappers during November and December 1958, and January 1959. Only one liver was negative. Even though possible sources of lead for wild raccoons were not investigated, it is suggested that minute quantities of lead occur routinely in the raccoon's environment. Livers collected from raccoons during July-September had significantly less lead than those collected during October-December. There were no significant differences in condition factors of raccoons as related to concentration of lead in their livers. Adrenal weights of animals with lower levels of lead were significantly heavier than those from raccoons with higher levels of lead. In the absence of other obvious stresses such as injury and disease, levels of lead up to 32 ..mu..g. per gram of liver caused no obvious symptoms of lead intoxication in the raccoon. Raccoons appear to be resistant to high levels of lead, but in spite of widely varying responses, lead intoxication, along with other factors, may be a cause of mortality in wild raccoons. 21 references, 1 figure, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Illinois State Natural History Survey, Urbana
• OSTI ID: 5152783
• Journal Information: J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 25:2; ISSN JWMAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
GLANDS
ILLINOIS
LEAD
LIVER
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
QUANTITY RATIO
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
USA
VARIATIONS
WILD ANIMALS