Heavy metals in cottontail rabbits on mined lands treated with sewage sludge. [Sylvilagus floridanua]

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7022370

Dressler, R L; Storm, G L; Tzilkowski, W M; Sopper, W E

Levels of heavy metals in soils, vegetation, and tissues of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on a Pennsylvania strip-mined site treated with sewage sludge were compared with those from a non-treated mine site to determine increases due to treatment effect. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn were higher in vegetation on the sludge-treated site. Zinc was higher in femurs of cottontails from the treated site, but levels of most metals in the tissues of cottontail rabbits from the treated site were comparable to those from a non-treated mine site and a nonmined area. Baseline values for the uptake of Cd were documented with captive cottontail rabbits fed diets supplemented with 0, 5, or 25 mg Cd kg/sup -1/. Captive rabbits fed diets supplemented with a Cd salt accumulated increasing levels of Cd in their tissues, except for muscle, as the dietary intake of Cd increased. Liver and muscle tissue of rabbits collected on treated mine sites contained higher Cd levels than laboratory controls, but overall, cottontail rabbits did not accumulate metals on the sludge-treated site at hazardous levels.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
• OSTI ID: 7022370
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 15:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BODY
CADMIUM
COAL MINING
COPPER
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION III
FEMUR
GLANDS
GROUND DISPOSAL
INFORMATION
INGESTION
INTAKE
LAND RECLAMATION
LIVER
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
MINING
MUSCLES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
PENNSYLVANIA
PLANTS
RABBITS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SKELETON
SLUDGES
SOILS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
ZINC