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Toxics
Special Issues
Biomonitoring of Elements in Wildlife Animals
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Biomonitoring of Elements in Wildlife Animals

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2022) | Viewed by 7805

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maja Lazarus

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, P.O. Box 291, HR-10001 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: essential and potentially toxic elements; biomonitoring, terrestrial wildlife; food contaminants; human exposure assessment
Dr. Zorana Kljaković-Gašpić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10001 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: biogeochemistry of trace elements; biomonitoring; mercury; inorganic contaminants; marine and freshwater pollution; exposure assessment
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Falandysz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy Medical, University of Lodz, 1 Muszyńskiego Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
Interests: food toxicology; food chemistry; environmental chemistry and toxicology; halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs); essential and potentially toxic elements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For decades, free-living animals were used in scientific studies to reflect environmental hazards that also have implications on public health, due to exposure to highly persistent legacy pollutants, such as metal(loid)s. Humans and wildlife are simultaneously exposed to multiple accumulative metalloids that have no biological function in the organism, and result in adverse effects on the endocrine, immune, nervous and reproductive systems, to mention just a few. In contrast, essential elements exert biochemical and physiological functions, but also change the bioavailability and toxic potential/effect of nonessential elements. Due to the wide spectrum of affected systems and organs following acute or chronic exposure to nonessential elements, some of which can also adversely affect progeny after maternal exposure, hazards have been observed at both the individual and population levels.

The resulting pollution-driven threat to the species (e.g., raptors, predatory mammals), amplified with the high trophic position, prompted the requirement for multidisciplinary projects that incorporate exposure source identification (genetic and isotopic fingerprinting), spatial and temporal contamination trends, and the evaluation of effects by standardization/confirmation of sensitive biomarkers. Addressing important variables that affect the element level, as well as their effects in wildlife (age, sex, morphology, reproductive period, genetics, habitat attributes, etc.), has been proven essential in biomonitoring.

We would like to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, and aid in enriching its respective area in  “Biomonitoring of elements in wildlife animals” in Toxics.

Kind regards,

Dr. Maja Lazarus
Dr. Zorana Kljaković-Gašpić
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Falandysz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • essential elements
  • potentially toxic elements
  • metal(loid)s
  • monitoring
  • spatial and temporal trends
  • exposure and effect biomarkers
  • animal sentinel species
  • terrestrial environment
  • freshwater and marine environment

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 803 KiB  
Article
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Hair as a Bioindicator for the Environmental Presence of Toxic and Trace Elements
by Susanna Draghi, Stella Agradi, Federica Riva, Duygu Tarhan, Bengü Bilgiç, Banu Dokuzeylül, Alev Meltem Ercan, Mehmet Erman Or, Gabriele Brecchia, Daniele Vigo, Francesco Arioli, Federica Di Cesare and Giulio Curone
Toxics 2023, 11(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11010049 - 03 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1553
Abstract
The return to pasture use as an alternative to intensive livestock farming implies some risks with the lack or the excessive presence of potentially toxic elements; in this regard, wild animals have been used as bioindicators for decades. Thus, the purpose of this [...] Read more.
The return to pasture use as an alternative to intensive livestock farming implies some risks with the lack or the excessive presence of potentially toxic elements; in this regard, wild animals have been used as bioindicators for decades. Thus, the purpose of this study is quantifying Cu, Cr, Mn, Zn, Se, As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Al, Fe, and Mg in fur from roe deer and understanding if it is a valid bioindicator tool. Hair was collected from 39 hunted roe deer and divided by age (<36 months old/≥36 months old), sex (male/female), and area of origin (urbanized/rural area). The mean concentrations of Fe, Mg, Mn, Al, Cr, and Pb were higher (p < 0.05) in the urbanized group; the mean levels of Mg and Cr were higher (p < 0.05) in older animals; and Cu, Fe, Mg, Cd, and Cr showed a higher accumulation in females. Our findings showed an age-related variation of elements, with higher concentrations in adult animals and females. In conclusion, our findings prove that hair is a valid matrix for this type of survey, and wild animals are good bioindicators for monitoring the presence of trace elements in pastures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomonitoring of Elements in Wildlife Animals)
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23 pages, 1869 KiB  
Article
Potentially Toxic Elements in Water, Sediments and Fish from the Karstic River (Raša River, Croatia) Located in the Former Coal-Mining Area
by Zorana Kljaković-Gašpić, Ankica Sekovanić, Tatjana Orct, Dora Šebešćen, Elena Klasiček and Davor Zanella
Toxics 2023, 11(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11010042 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1552
Abstract
The assessment of the environmental quality of a sensitive karst aquatic system under the centuries-long anthropogenic influence of the coal mining industry is important for both improving the quality of water resources and protecting aquatic wildlife and human health. In this study, we [...] Read more.
The assessment of the environmental quality of a sensitive karst aquatic system under the centuries-long anthropogenic influence of the coal mining industry is important for both improving the quality of water resources and protecting aquatic wildlife and human health. In this study, we investigated the anthropogenic impact on the aquatic environment of the upper and middle course of the Raša River through the analysis of a suite of metal(loid)s in three aquatic compartments (water, sediment, fish) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations of inorganic constituents in water were low, while the chemical composition of stream sediments mainly reflected the geological background of the area, indicating the origin of metal(loid)s from predominantly natural sources. Although comparison with PEC-Q values indicated that existing sediment quality conditions could pose a threat to benthic organisms with regard to Cr and Ni, the constant vertical profiles of these elements suggested their natural origin from the weathering of flysch. Element levels in the muscle of targeted fish species were in accordance with the values typical for low-contaminated freshwater systems, while levels of Cd, Pb and Hg were mostly below the European regulatory limits for toxic elements in foods, indicating that the low concentrations of most contaminants in muscles of fish from the Raša River do not present a risk to humans or other consumers. The obtained data indicated a generally low contamination status of the western part of the Raša River basin with regard to the analyzed inorganic elements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomonitoring of Elements in Wildlife Animals)
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16 pages, 1231 KiB  
Article
Lead and Other Trace Element Levels in Brains of Croatian Large Terrestrial Carnivores: Influence of Biological and Ecological Factors
by Maja Lazarus, Ankica Sekovanić, Slaven Reljić, Josip Kusak, Maja Ferenčaković, Magda Sindičić, Tomislav Gomerčić and Đuro Huber
Toxics 2023, 11(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11010004 - 20 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1239
Abstract
Trace element pollution can adversely affect the brains of individuals and thus impact the entire population of apex predators, such as large European carnivores. We assessed exposure to prominent neurotoxicants As, Cd, Hg and Pb by measuring their brain stem levels in brown [...] Read more.
Trace element pollution can adversely affect the brains of individuals and thus impact the entire population of apex predators, such as large European carnivores. We assessed exposure to prominent neurotoxicants As, Cd, Hg and Pb by measuring their brain stem levels in brown bears (n = 114), grey wolves (n = 8), Eurasian lynx (n = 3), and golden jackals (n = 2) sampled in 2015–2022 in Croatia. The highest of the non-essential elements was the Pb level in the bearsʼ brains (median, Q1–Q3; 11.1, 7.13–24.1 μg/kg wet mass), with 4% of animals, all subadults, exceeding the established normal bovine levels (100 μg/kg wet mass). Species-specific differences were noted for Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Se brain levels. Female brown bears had higher As brain levels than males. Cubs and yearlings had lower brain Cd, but higher Zn, while subadults had higher Cu than adult bears. Hepatic As, Cd, Cu and Hg levels were shown to be a moderate proxy for estimating brain levels in bears (rS = 0.30–0.69). Multiple associations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb with essential elements pointed to a possible interaction and disturbance of brain Ca, Cu, Fe, Se and Zn homeostasis. Non-essential element levels in the brains of four studied species were lower than reported earlier for terrestrial meso-carnivores and humans. The age and sex of animals were highlighted as essential factors in interpreting brain element levels in ecotoxicological studies of large carnivores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomonitoring of Elements in Wildlife Animals)
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Review

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28 pages, 2222 KiB  
Review
South American National Contributions to Knowledge of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Wild Animals: Current and Future Directions
by Sylvia Rojas-Hucks, Ignacio A. Rodriguez-Jorquera, Jorge Nimpstch, Paulina Bahamonde, Julio A. Benavides, Gustavo Chiang, José Pulgar and Cristóbal J. Galbán-Malagón
Toxics 2022, 10(12), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10120735 - 28 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2729
Abstract
Human pressure due to industrial and agricultural development has resulted in a biodiversity crisis. Environmental pollution is one of its drivers, including contamination of wildlife by chemicals emitted into the air, soil, and water. Chemicals released into the environment, even at low concentrations, [...] Read more.
Human pressure due to industrial and agricultural development has resulted in a biodiversity crisis. Environmental pollution is one of its drivers, including contamination of wildlife by chemicals emitted into the air, soil, and water. Chemicals released into the environment, even at low concentrations, may pose a negative effect on organisms. These chemicals might modify the synthesis, metabolism, and mode of action of hormones. This can lead to failures in reproduction, growth, and development of organisms potentially impacting their fitness. In this review, we focused on assessing the current knowledge on concentrations and possible effects of endocrine disruptor chemicals (metals, persistent organic pollutants, and others) in studies performed in South America, with findings at reproductive and thyroid levels. Our literature search revealed that most studies have focused on measuring the concentrations of compounds that act as endocrine disruptors in animals at the systemic level. However, few studies have evaluated the effects at a reproductive level, while information at thyroid disorders is scarce. Most studies have been conducted in fish by researchers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Comparison of results across studies is difficult due to the lack of standardization of units in the reported data. Future studies should prioritize research on emergent contaminants, evaluate effects on native species and the use of current available methods such as the OMICs. Additionally, there is a primary focus on organisms related to aquatic environments, and those inhabiting terrestrial environments are scarce or nonexistent. Finally, we highlight a lack of funding at a national level in the reviewed topic that may influence the observed low scientific productivity in several countries, which is often negatively associated with their percentage of protected areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomonitoring of Elements in Wildlife Animals)
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