Lead in tissues of woodchucks fed crown vetch growing adjacent to a highway

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398609530909· OSTI ID:5071033

Young, R W; Ridgely, S L; Blue, J T; Bache, C A; Lisk, D J

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) were fed crown vetch (Coronilla varia) growing along a major highway that was harvested in 1979, before unleaded gas was widely used, and again in 1985. Crown vetch, harvested 300 m from the nearest road, was fed as the control. The crops were fed as 50% dry weight of the diet for 58 d. The concentrations of lead in the control, 1979 crop, and 1985 crop were, respectively, 0.74, 50.65, and 6.78 ppm dry weight. The average +/- SE) concentrations (ppm, dry weight) of lead found in the tissues of the control, 1979, and 1985 dietary-treatment animals were, respectively, kidney, 0.36 +/- 0.05, 5.78 +/- 0.72, and 0.79 +/- 0.09; liver, 0.09 +/- 0.01, 4.71 +/- 0.17, and 0.46 +/- 0.06; muscle, 0.07 +/- 0.01, 0.14 +/- 0.02, and 0.07 +/- 0.00; blood, 0.09 +/- 0.02, 2.17 +/- 0.13, and 0.31 +/- 0.05; and bone, 1.27 +/- 0.25, 47.52 +/- 7.05, and 3.71 +/- 0.65. No significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between dietary treatments were found in the general hematological analyses of the woodchucks. The ecological significance of these findings is discussed.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg
• OSTI ID: 5071033
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LEAD
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
PLANTS
CONTAMINATION
BLOOD
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MAMMALS
MUSCLES
SKELETON
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORGANS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)