[en] 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

[en] The content of heavy metals in mineralised dental tissues is an indicator of the exposure of their mineral phase to heavy metals during the time of tooth development and dental tissue formation. Therefore, teeth have been used as bio-indicators which accurately reflect the environmental or dietary exposure of animals and humans to heavy metals. This study follows from the earlier work in which it was demonstrated that the teeth from bank voles inhabiting various environmentally polluted and non-polluted forests in Southern Poland were reliable indicators of exposure to heavy metals. Using analytical techniques employed in the earlier study heavy metal concentrations were obtained in the teeth of bank voles trapped in 1998-2000 to determine if efforts to clean up the environment could be detected in changes in heavy metal concentrations in the teeth. The results show that these efforts are reflected in lower concentrations of heavy metals in the teeth but that cross border contamination remains a problem

[en] Bank voles were trapped in the neighborhood of the Sendzimir steelworks in Krakow and the ZGH Boleslaw zinc smelter in Bukowno. The Borecka forest in the north of Poland served as a control area. Lead, cadmium, zinc, and iron concentrations were analyzed in the liver, kidneys, testes, and femur bones of the bank voles. Typically, high levels of lead and cadmium were found in the bones and kidneys, respectively. In the femurs of the rodents from Bukowno, 109.26 μg g^-1 dry weight of lead was detected. The kidneys of these animals had accumulated 32.98 μg g^-1 cadmium. Concentrations of zinc and iron in the tissues were at physiological levels. No damage was found in the tissues of the bank voles from the Borecka forest or in the testes of animals from other areas. Histopathological changes in the kidneys of the rodents from Krakow as well as changes to the liver and kidneys of the animals from Bukowno were demonstrated

[en] 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(NO₃)₂ solution proved that the highest Pb concentration occurred in the upper and lower cortex

[en] 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. - Highlights: ► High levels of Cd and Pb were found in liver and kidneys of Mallard and Coot. ► Lower concentrations were found in young birds. ► Amount of metals exceeded the safety threshold established for edible poultry. ► Histopathological alterations were found in studied tissues. ► Lesions in birds with the highest concentrations of metals were numerous