Input of heavy metals to the forest floor as the result of zinc smelter pollution in southern Poland

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of zinc smelter on heavy metals concentration in the litter fall collected from three different sites in Olkusz Forest located in southern Poland. Furthermore the study was designed to investigate the input of these metals to the forest floor. Three forest areas Podlesie I and Podlesie II located 3 and 4 km south-east from Bukowno zinc smelter and Cegielnia situated 6 km north-east from the smelter were selected. At the beginning of September 2006 five litter traps were set at each site. The quantity of litter fall, along with percent age composition of each species, were estimated for an area of 1m^2. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe in the litter fall and leaves of four main tree species were analysed. The input of these metals to the forest floor were determined. The input of cadmium ranged from 204 μg m^2 at Cegielnia to 1340 μg m^2 at Podlesie I. The input of lead was higher than cadmium and varied from 1031 μg m^2 at Cegielnia to 3252 μg m^2 at Podlesie II. The input of zinc and iron were about 10 times than cadmium and lead. The less input of all invesigated metals was noticed in control site located at WNP. for those metals. The high input of heavy metals to the forest floor may have negative effects on investigated part of Olkusz forest ecosystem

Yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) as zoomonitors of environmental contamination at a polluted area in Slovakia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Free-living wild rodents are often used as zoomonitors of environmental contamination. In the present study, accumulation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in critical organs of yellow-necked mice (<it>Apodemus flavicollis</it>) and bank voles (<it>Myodes glareolus</it>) trapped in a polluted area in Nováky, Slovakia was investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Yellow-necked mice (n = 8) and bank voles (n = 10) were collected using standard theriological methods for wood ecosystems. All animals were adult males in good physical condition. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn in the liver, kidney, and bone were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The highest concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in the bone of both species while Cu and Fe accumulated mainly in kidney or liver. Significant higher concentrations of Cd and Cu were detected in the liver of bank voles than in yellow-necked mice. Similar significant higher levels of Cd and Zn were found in the bone of bank voles. In contrast, significant higher concentrations of Cu and Fe were present in the kidney of yellow-necked mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the yellow-necked mouse and bank vole, bone seems to accumulate Cd and Zn following prolonged exposure. On the contrary, kidney and liver store Cu and Fe after a long-term environmental exposure. In the present study, bank voles seemed to be more heavy metal loaded zoomonitors than yellow-necked mice.</p