Biomonitoring of contaminated mine tailings through age accumulation of trace metals in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)

Lead, zinc and cadmium were determined in a range of tissues from laborator y-bred bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) exposed to elevated levels of d ietary zinc (124 mu g g(-1)). The pelletised diet was derived from vegetati on harvested from the surface of a revegetated tailings dam at a modern Zn- Pb mine. Exposure regimes to the contaminated diet were 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 days. Elevated levels of dietary zinc were not reflected in the individ ual tissue or total body concentrations. Marginal age accumulation of lead and cadmium was evident in the liver (Pb) and kidney (Pb and Cd). Tissue re sidues did not attain toxicologically significant concentrations. Animals i nhabiting the grassland are considered to be at low ecotoxicological risk w ith respect to trace metals.