INVESTIGATION OF THE LEAD, CADMIUM, AND M ERCURY CONTENTS IN THE ORGANS AND MUSCLES OF ROE DEER AND CHAMOIS IN SOUTHERN TYROL

Liver, kidney and diaphragm samples of 57 roe deer and 58 chamois coll ected during the hunting season 1995 were examined for their heavy met al (Pb, Cd, Hg) concentrations. The possible influence of the paramete rs - sex, age, body weight, condition of heath, season, region, altitu de, and habitat exposure were rested. Due to the suitability of wildli fe as biological indicators, the measured concentrations provide infor mation on the environmental pollution of their habitats. Lead concentr ations (median content: ppm) were higher in chamois (kidney: 0.143; li ver: 0.120; diaphragm: 0.112) than in roe deer (kidney: 0.100; liver: 0.082; diaphragm:0.050). The highest levels measured in diaphragm can be accounted for by a secondary contamination originating from the let hal projectile. Higher concentrations have been detected in the liver of male animals than female. The higher cadmium concentrations (median content: ppm) in roe deer (kidney: 1.333; liver: 0.120; diaphragm: 0. 006) have been attributed to the different: grazing habits. A highly s ignificant age dependency of the Cd concentration could be observed fo r both species of animals. The median mercury content (ppm) in roe dee r (kidney: 0.026; liver: 0.012; diaphragm: 0.000) and chamois (kidney: 0.016; liver: 0.006; diaphragm: 0.006) was low. An influence of the s eason was seen in both species.