GAME AS AN INDICATOR FOR POLLUTIVE EFFECT S - INVESTIGATION RESULTS FROM THE TERRITORY OF THE NEW FEDERAL LANDS

The results of a monitoring of ecotoxicologically relevant pollutants carried out between 1992 and 1994 are presented. The objective of the monitoring was to determine the environmental pollution in three inves tigation areas of the new Federal Lands (Hochharz, Dubener Heide, Ostu fer Muritz) as well as to assess the quality of game as a food product . Samples of liver, muscle and kidney from a total number of 179 anima ls have been investigated for pollutants. The assessment was made on t he basis of the existing guidelines of the ZEBS 1992, the Regulations for maximum permissible values of plant-protective agents (RHmV, 1989 and 1994) and the Regulation for maximum permissible values of toxic a gents (SHmV, 1988). Tendentious differences in the course of the three investigation years were not detectable. Higher concentrations as for example the Cd concentrations in the lever and kidney or roebucks and the heptachlor concentration of the bucks from the Hochharz area that had been detected in 1993 as compared to the investigation year 1992 have not been confirmed in 1994. However there are differences in the Cd and Pb concentrations of the investigated samples of liver and kidn ey between the areas of investigation. The Cd and Pb concentrations de tected in the organs of animals from the Hochharz area are higher than the respective concentrations in the two other areas. In all areas un der investigation the Cd concentrations in kidneys exceeded the values recommended by the guidelines. This applies to 96% of all tested samp les in the Hochharz area, to 85% of the samples in the Dubener Heide a rea and to 68% in the Muritz area. Concerning the Cd concentrations in livers only very few samples exceeded the values recommended by the g uidelines. The muscle samples of the investigated animals from all thr ee areas in which samples had been taken have been nearly uneffected a s far as the concentrations of heavy metals as well as OCP and PCB are concerned. Consequently game from all the three investigation areas i s absolutely harmless to health and is recommended for consumption.