Heavy metal bioaccumulation in lamb and sheep bred in smelting and mining areas of S. W. Sardinia (Italy)

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01689734· OSTI ID:7066286

Leita, L; Nobili, M de ^[1]; Enne, G ^[2]; Baldini, M ^[3]; Sequi, P ^[4]

---

1. Univ. of Udine (Italy)
2. Univ. of Sassari (Italy)
3. Nuova Samim S.p.A., Roma (Italy)
4. Univ. of Bologna (Italy)

It is widely known that anthropogenic activities strongly contributed to heavy metals contamination of the environment. For this reason, distribution of heavy metals in soils and plants around urban and industrial point sources have been the object of extensive studies. Lesser attention has been given to accumulation of heavy metals in animals bred in these polluted environments, and relatively few works are concerned with the accumulation of heavy metals through the food chain. The aim of this work is to examine the distribution of heavy metals in two contaminated environments, a smelter-refinery and a mine area situated in S.W. Sardinia. The first sampling area is located near one of the most important Pb and Zn smelting-refineries of Europe, and the second near abandoned and working mines. In this study, target organs of sheep and lamb were considered for their heavy metals accumulation. Samples of vegetation were collected throughout the vegetative period and analyzed for their Pb, Zn and Cd content. Winter forage and soil were also sampled.

• OSTI ID: 7066286
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States) Vol. 46:6; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
ITALY
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MINING
PLANTS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SMELTERS
SMELTING
SOIL CHEMISTRY
ZINC COMPOUNDS