Sexual Maturity and Life Stage Influences Toxic Metal Accumulation in Croatian Brown Bears.

摘要: The influence of reproductive and (early) life stages on toxic metal levels was investigated in the brown bear (Ursus arctos), largest mammalian predator species Croatia. purpose to examine critical clusters a population that might be at higher risk adverse health effects caused by metals as environmental contaminants. Levels cadmium, mercury lead muscle, liver kidney cortex 325 male 139 female bears, quantified inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, were analysed according distinct (young: cub, yearling, subadult; mature: adult). Metal did not differ among sexes young animals (< 4 years), except for muscles (higher females), adult females had cadmium mercury. A trend renal accumulation with age immature disappeared once they reached maturity, whereas this has only slowly declined mature compared bears. In early stage (< 1 year), cubs lower comparable mercury, kidneys than bears following category (yearlings). Due proportion of renal transfer from mother cub it may high burden found in kidneys older toxicological concern their content. Sex, reproductive, confirmed important assessing burden.