INCREASED CHROMIUM AND NICKEL CONTENTS IN DRINKING-WATER FROM AUTOMATIC WATERING SYSTEMS DESIGNED FOR LABORATORY RODENTS

In water samples collected from 4 different automatic watering systems (2 suppliers), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) contents refering to the German drinking water law were evaluated (max. 50 mu g/l Cr and Ni). The water probes from racks, whose water containing elements (pipes an d nipples) were built to a great extend from refined steel with inferi or quality, exceeded most times the amounts of Cr and Ni drastically ( range for Cr from 96 mu g/l to 1440 mu g/l respectively Ni from 22 mu g/l to 3730 mu g/l). As worked out, small laboratory rodents used in c ancer research should therefore be supplied with conventional watering systems like bottles.