Back to Search Start Over

Heavy metal accumulation and genotoxic effects in levant vole (Microtus guentheri) collected from contaminated areas due to mining activities.

Authors :
Turna Demir, Fatma
Yavuz, Mustafa
Source :
Environmental Pollution; Jan2020, Vol. 256, pN.PAG-N.PAG, 1p
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination is a serious environmental problem commonly monitored in various organisms. Small wild rodents are ideal biological monitors to show the extent of environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of marble and stone quarries on the Levant vole, Microtus guentheri , inhabiting some polluted sites. In this context, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze distribution of thirteen heavy metals (Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, B, Pb, As, Co, Cd, and Hg) in the organs (skins, bones, muscles, livers and kidneys) of the biological specimens, and the comet assay revealed DNA damage in blood lymphocytes for the first time. This study was conducted at close to the marble and stone quarries at Korkuteli, Antalya-Turkey during spring, summer, autumn (2017) and winter (2018) seasons. In spring and summer, genetic damage in blood lymphocytes from all polluted sites (sites 1–5) was significantly higher than that of controls, while in autumn it was higher in samples from three sites (sites 3–5). In terms of heavy metal distribution in organs, we found depositions of Fe, Al, Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr, Co, As and Pb primarily in the skin with its derivatives, Cu and Cd deposits in the kidney, Cu, Cd and B deposits in the liver, and As and Pb depositions in the bones. The study shows that certain organs (especially skin with its derivatives) and blood lymphocytes of Levant vole can be used as ideal indicators of heavy metal pollution. Our results suggest that the Korkuteli area could already be under the threat of heavy metal pollution. Image 1 • Heavy metal and metalloids accumulation levels were evaluated in organs of Microtus guentheri from polluted sites in Turkey. • Seasonal and organ differences were evaluated by canonical discriminant analysis in terms of heavy metal accumulation. • Genetic damage was detected in Microtus guentheri samples from polluted sites for the first time. • Results show that levant vole (Microtus guentheri) can serve a biomonitoring model for ecotoxicological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
02697491
Volume :
256
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Environmental Pollution
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
140376568
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113378