Katarzyna Sawicka-Kapusta

Damage to the liver, kidney, and testis with reference to burden of heavy metals in yellow-necked mice from areas around steelworks and zinc smelters in Poland

The influence of the steelworks in Warsaw and Krakow as well as the zinc smelters in Bukowno and Miasteczko Slaskie on lead, cadmium, zinc and iron concentrations and the structure of selected tissues of yellow-necked mice were analysed. The Borecka Forest was chosen as a control area. The highest concentrations of lead, 172.36 g/g dry weight, and cadmium, 23.58 g/g, were detected in the femurs and kidneys, respectively, of rodents caught in Bukowno. Zinc and iron concentrations ranged over physiological values. No histopathological changes were observed in analysed tissues of all rodents in the control area. Damage occurred in the liver and kidneys of animals from all other sites and in the testes of rodents from Bukowno. Decreased glycogen content, interstitial fibrosis, and increased number of pyknotic nuclei as well as necrosis were seen in hepatocytes. In the kidneys hyperplasia of the tubules, atrophy of glomeruli, interstitial fibrosis and necrosis were observed. Degenerate cells were present in the lumen of seminiferous tubules of animals from the Bukowno area. Even relatively low concentrations of lead and cadmium, like those found in the liver and kidneys of rodents from the neighbourhood of the steelworks, caused histopathological changes.

Roe deer antlers as bioindicators of environmental pollution in southern Poland

Abstract Roe deer antlers from three southern forest regions in Poland exposed to industrial pollution and from Bialowieza Forest were investigated with regard to heavy metal and sulphur content. Zinc, lead, cadmium, iron and chromium occurred at higher levels in the antlers from the investigated regions than in the controls. The heavy metal pollution index shows that the greatest pollution by heavy metals occurs in Ojcow National Park as well as in Silesian forests. Niepolomice Forest is contaminated mainly by derivatives of sulphur dioxide. Roe deer antlers appear to be sensitive indicators of industrial pollution in the forest ecosystem. Furthermore they are valuable bioindicators since they comprise the pollution sample accumulated in 130 days of growth and also because they may be available every year in great quantity.

Elemental distribution in lichens transplanted to polluted forest sites near Kraków (Poland)

This study describes elemental distribution in the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., with emphasis on heavy metals.Micro-PIXE measurements were performed using the nuclear microprobe at the iThemba LABS, South Africa.Detailed information from different thallus layers was obtained by performing true elemental mapping using the dynamic analysis method, complemented by analyses of selected smaller areas and point analyses.Cl and K concentrations were high near the algal layer whilst S concentrated mostly in the algal and lower cortex layers.The highest concentrations of P were found in the lower cortex.Mn and Zn were mostly concentrated in the algal layer and lower cortex while high concentrations of Fe were noted in the lower cortex.The highest concentrations of Ca and Pb were found in the medullary layer.Mapping of lichen samples soaked in Pb(NO 3)2 solution proved that the highest Pb concentration occurred in the upper and lower cortex. 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Bank voles as monitors of environmental contamination by heavy metals. A remote wilderness area in Poland imperilled

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe) were determined in the tissues of bank voles collected in polluted forest sites in southern Poland and in Białowieza National Park. The highest cadmium concentrations were found in livers (0.9-12.8 microg g(-1)) and kidneys (3.2-29.6 microg g(-1)), whereas the lowest were in bones (0.2-0.9 microg g(-1)). The lead concentrations found in kidneys and bones ranged from 9.5 to 40.0 microg g(-1). The ranges of zinc, iron and copper concentrations in the tissues of animals were: 137-343 microg g(-1), 206-1017 microg(-1) and 12.0-73.8 microg(-1), respectively. Some of the differences between the levels found in various sites were statistically significant.

Histopathology of liver and kidneys of wild living Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Coots Fulica atra with considerable concentrations of lead and cadmium

Concentrations of cadmium and lead were measured in liver and kidneys of Mallard (n=60) and Coot (n=50). Free living birds were collected by hunters in years 2006-2008 in the area of fishponds near Zator in southern Poland. Age group was determined according to the appearance of the plumage (Mallards) and iris color (Coot). Concentrations of metals were measured with ET-AA spectrometer. Among all birds specimens with negligible (n=5) and high concentrations (Mallards n=18 and Coots n=17) of cadmium and lead were chosen for further analysis. Histopathological alterations were observed, ranging from circulatory disturbances, retrogressive changes, inflammations to leukocytic infiltration in liver and kidney. They dominated among birds with the highest concentrations of metals. The control group of birds was characterized by a very small number of mentioned lesions. Probably the higher cadmium and lead concentrations in tissues are co-factors in the development of lesions.

Effects of environmental metal pollution on breeding populations of pied and collared flycatchers in Niepołomice Forest, Southern Poland

In 1990–93 the breeding performance of pied and collared flycatcher populations (Ficedula hypoleuca and Ficedula albicollis) was studied in Niepolomice Forest at Stanislawice (Cracow Province). Concentrations of the non-essential elements cadmium and lead in bird tissues were higher than those measured at Tavelsjo (Sweden), the reference site ( Nyholm et al., 1994). The highest cadmium concentrations, up to 0.35 μg/g, were found in liver. The highest lead levels, up to 1.09 μg/g, occurred in breastbone samples. Levels of copper, zinc and iron were close to physiological norms. The main source of these elements in nestlings was likely to have been their diet. The number of fledged nestlings (3.2–5.2) in Stanislawice was lower than in Tavelsjo (6). The high percentages of nestlings with low levels of haemoglobin suggest that this may be the main factor contributing to the lower survival rates at Stanislawice.

Lead poisoning and its in vivo biomarkers in Mallard and Coot from two hunting activity areas in Poland.

In this study, we aimed to present the status of lead (Pb) poisoning in birds from southern Poland and the evaluation of in vivo biomarkers which may be used in the diagnosis without killing animals. This included the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-d), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, hematocrit (Ht) level and concentrations of Pb in blood, feathers and excrements. The significance of this work is the use of hunted birds which allow us to compare the signals of the chosen biomarkers with the internal response. Birds collected in the area of lower hunting activity (the Milicz ponds) revealed statistically lower Pb concentrations than birds from the Zator area. Pb poisoning was diagnosed in almost 8% of birds (including specimens from both areas), but lead pellets were found in 3%. The highest tissue concentration found was noted in kidneys of Mallard from the Zator area (36.55 μg g(-1) d.w.). Significantly higher concentrations were noted in a few samples of gizzard content (up to 1047 μg g(-1) d.w.) and excrements (up to 82.95 μg g(-1) d.w.). Hb concentration, Ht level, concentrations in feathers and excrements seem not to be efficient biomarkers at noted Pb concentrations in internal tissues (brain, pectoral muscle, kidney, liver, spleen, bone). In contrast, we found a significant negative correlation between Pb concentration in blood and ALA-d activity which confirmed that this parameter can be used successfully as in vivo biomarker of lead poisoning also in low environmental pollution.

Cadmium concentrations and their implications in Mallard and Coot from fish pond areas

During the studies in 2003, high concentrations of cadmium (Cd) were noted among Mallards and Coots in Poland. Further research, five years later, showed the histopathological alterations in birds from the same area which were probably stimulated by Cd. This paper presents the analysis of Cd in ten different materials collected from these species (n=180) in years 2006-2009 in two areas, including southern - Zator and western Poland - Milicz. Similarly high concentrations to those from 2003 were noted only in kidneys of Mallards from the Zator area (up to 56.49 μg g(-1) d.w.). Other comparable materials accumulated significantly lower concentration of Cd. Generally, lower concentrations occurred in birds from Milicz. Concentrations varied also between species and age groups. They correlated between liver and kidneys, brain and muscle and brain and spleen. Potential in vivo bioindicators (blood, feathers and excrements) did not seem to be useful as biomarkers in both areas.

Input of heavy metals to the forest floor as a result of Cracow urban pollution

The influence of Cracows urban pollution on small forest ecosystems was studied during 1998-2000. Seven sites located at different distances from the Cracow conurbation and from busy road were selected. Two sites were situated 26 and 31 km from Cracow town along an eastern transect, the other five-3, 8, 14, 26 and 35 km respectively, from Cracow-along a southern transect. At the beginning of September, five litter traps were set at each site. The quantity of litter fall, along with percentage composition of each species, were estimated for an area of 1 m(2). The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe in the litter fall and the input of these metals to the forest floor were determined. The input of cadmium ranged from 84 microg m(-2) at Kornatka in 1998 to 382 microg m(-2) at Bonarka in 2000. The input of lead was about 10 times higher than cadmium and varied from 406 microg m(-2) at Weglówka in 1998 to 3717 microg m(-2) at Bonarka in 2000. Input of Cu, Zn and Fe to the forest floor showed the similar tendency. During 1998-2000, the highest heavy metal concentrations in the litter fall and their impact on the forest floor were always found at sites close to the Cracow conurbation and, in the eastern transect, close to a steel works. Input of metals to the forest floor tended to decrease with increasing distance from the centre of Cracow.

Heavy metal contamination in Polish national parks

Abstract Lichens ( Hypogymnia physodes L.) were used as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in ten Polish national parks. Significant differences were found between particular parks in the concentrations of metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe). The lowest concentrations were found in Wigierski National Park. A global pollution index was calculated to compare the contamination of all investigated parks.