Ocena zawartosci kadmu w nerkach i watrobie zubrow z Puszczy Bialowieskiej

The aim of the performed investigations was to evaluate the cadmium content in the kidneys and liver of free-living European bisons in the Bia³owie¿a forest. The cadmium content was determined in the kidneys and livers of 20 animals (14 females, 6 males; 15 calves of up to one year of age and 5 animals older than 2 years). Cadmium was analysed by the ICP-OES method in an accredited laboratory; after homogenisation, samples were mineralised in a microwave apparatus in Teflon® containers, under pressure in nitric acid. The obtained results are presented in Tables 1-3. The mean value of cadmium in the kidneys amounted to 1.82 and in the liver to 0.83 mg/kg of fresh tissue. No significant sex-dependant differences were observed. However, significant differences were noted depending on the animal’s age, older animals cumulating more cadmium both in the kidneys and liver.