WILD CERVIDAE AS BIOINDICATORS OF CADMIUM POLLUTION

Wild cervidae are exposed to the cadmium of the environment, and the c admium contents of their liver and kidneys reflect their exposition le vel. As in other species, cadmium bioaccumulates in wild cervidae, and cadmium tissues contents increase with exposure lasting, and conseque ntly with the age of the animal. Cadmium tissues contents vary also wi th the anthropogenic pollution level of the environment, and also with its natural contamination level. Inter-species differencies in cadmiu m exposure are found, wich are related to the differences in the compo sition of the diets. Wild cervidae are goad bioindicators of environme ntal pollution with cadmium. Toxicological risks for these animals are very low, even for the most exposed populations. However, consumption of their offals represents a long-term risk for human health. Some au tochtonal populations from northern Canada and Europe are mainly conce rned.