COMPARABLE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE HEAVY-ME TAL CONTAMINATION OF RED DEER, ROE DEER AND CHAMOIS

We analysed the concentrations of the heavy metals lead, cadmium, and mercury in several samples (liver, kidney, ribs, hair, rumen contents) of red deer, roe deer, and chamois living in the same area in Tirol. Samples of browse plants representative for the different species were also analyzed for heavy metal concentrations. Lead contamination was generally low and not remarkable different among the species, but a si gnificant increase of lead levels was found between the first investig ation period (1982-1985) and the second one (1989-1991). Cadmium conce ntrations in liver and esp. kidneys rise with the age of the animal, t he highest levels were found in roe deer. The reason for this could be found in the high cadmium concentrations in some food plants, like mu shrooms and herbs, esp. preferred by this species. Mercury contaminati on was low except for some higher values in roe deer which are also du e to the uptake of mushrooms.