LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN TISSUES OF FRUIT BATS (PTEROPUS SP) IN URBAN AND NONURBAN LOCATIONS

Lead concentrations were measured in tissues from 37 fruit bats from t he Brisbane area and 5 bats from non-urban areas. On the basis of toxi city levels of 25 mug per g of kidney and 10 mug per g of liver, 11 of the Brisbane bats had concentrations consistent with toxicity. Other Brisbane bats had very high lead concentrations in bone and teeth. The lead concentrations in the non-urban bats were very low. Lead concent rations in the fur were variable but were highly correlated with conce ntrations in bones and teeth, reflecting long-term exposure to lead. H igh concentrations of lead were recovered from fur washings, which cor related very highly with the concentrations in kidney and liver, refle cting more recent and continuing exposure to lead. The source of the l ead was not verified but the atmosphere was the probable source. Measu rement of lead concentrations in the fur and its washings would appear to provide a means of monitoring lead accumulation in the tissues of fruit bats over both the long and short term. Such measurements could be valuable in monitoring environmental exposure to lead.