METALS AND SELENIUM IN WILD ANIMALS FROM NORWEGIAN AREAS CLOSE TO RUSSIAN NICKEL SMELTERS

This paper reports the concentrations of metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, H g, Ni, Pb, and/or Zn) and selenium (Se) in kidney and/or liver samples from capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagop us), hares (Lepus timidus), common shrews (Sorer araneus) and grey-sid ed voles (Clethrionomus rufocanus) from the Norwegian areas most heavi ly contaminated by pollutants from the Russian smelters on the Kola pe ninsula. In addition to comparing areas that differed in expected poll ution rate within Sor-Varanger, comparisons are drawn with reference d ata from other parts of Norway. The relatively highest levels of metal s were found for Cu and Ni in the sub-area most heavily exposed to pol lution from the smelters. Also the highest Cr concentrations were foun d in the areas closest to the smelters. In this study, there is eviden ce for a direct link between increased metal concentrations in wild an imals and pollution from the Russian smelters for Cu and Ni and to som e extent for Cr. relatively high concentration of Hg and slight increa ses in Pb are also documented, but regional differences within Sor-Var anger indicate no direct relationship to the Russian smelters. No samp les showed concentrations of any of the analysed metals in excess of t he limits where negative effects on animals can be measured.