[Distribution characteristics and risk assessment of heavy metals in farming domestic muscovy duck originated from Au/Cu mining and smelting activites]

To investigate the impacts of mining and spilling activities on domestic fowl raising, ten muscovy duck (Cairna moschata) samples were collected in 2010 from farms in different villages located at the banks of the river originated from an Au/Cu mine. Concentrations of Cu, Hg and As in muscle, liver and blood of the muscovy duck samples were determined. According to relative national standards of China, the health safety of heavy metals in muscovy duck was evaluated. The results indicated that content of Cu was higher than those of Hg and As in the same tissue of the duck. The average content (17.20 mg x kg(-1)) of Cu in liver of the duck was higher than those in other tissues, but the concentrations of Hg and As had no significant difference among three tissues of the duck. There was no significant spatial distribution pattern of Cu, Hg and As in three tissues of the duck samples collected from the farms in different villages located at the banks of the river, indicating no significant impacts of mining and spilling activities on the ducks samples. The contents of Cu, Hg and As in the tissues of the duck samples fell in normal level ranges, and the ducks didn't show abnormal physical symptoms. According to the tolerance limits of heavy metals in foods of China, Cu in livers of the duck samples exceeded the standard by 100%, and the highest value of Cu in the liver was 1.74 times higher than its maximum allowable concentration in foods. Moreover, Hg contents in some muscle, blood and liver tissues of the duck samples were relatively high.