EFFECTS OF AIR-POLLUTION ON HEMATOLOGICAL AND PLASMA PARAMETERS IN APODEMUS-SYLVATICUS AND MUS MUSCULUS

The effects of atmospheric air pollution on some hematological and pla sma parameters, activity, and food and water consumption in Apodemus s ylvaticus (wood mouse) and Mus musculus (mouse) were studied. The stud ies were undertaken in the area of Cercs (polluted area in Spain), whe re there is a coal-fired power plant that emanates SO2, NOx, and parti cles, and the area of St. Jaume de Frontanya (nonpolluted area), locat ed 40 km from the area of Cercs, with similar climatology, relief, and altitude, but without air pollution. Apodemus sylvaticus were capture d in the field and Mus musculus were placed in cages in both studied a reas. The results showed that there is a significant decrease in hemat ocrit, and a significant increase in leucocyte number, mean corpuscula r hemoglobin concentration, osmolality, and gamma-globulin in Mus musc ulus, and a decrease in albumin (%) and albumin/globulin index in Apod emus sylvaticus. A negative correlation between hematocrit values and pollution was found. In mice placed in cages in the polluted area a sl ight but significant decrease in water and food consumption, and slowe r activity, was observed. The results suggest that pollution could ind uce a decrease in water and food consumption, which may be due to an o bserved reduction in activity.