Concentrations of Trace Elements in Tissues of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Stone Marten (Martes foina) from Suburban and Rural Areas in Croatia Nina Bilandz ˇic ´ • Danko Dez ˇd ¯ek • Marija Sedak • Maja Ðokic ´ • Boz ˇica Solomun • Ivana Varenina • Zorka Knez ˇevic ´ • Alen Slavica Received: 12 July 2010 / Accepted: 29 October 2010 / Published online: 11 November 2010 Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract Trace elements concentrations (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg) were determined in the liver, kidney and muscle of 28 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 16 stone marten (Martes foina) from suburban and rural habitats from Croatia. Rural and suburban habitats affected Cd and Hg levels in the muscle, liver and kidney of red fox. Significant differences in metal concentrations in the muscle, liver and kidney were detected among species. Suburban stone marten accumulated the highest levels of trace elements (mg/kg w.w.): in muscle 0.019 for Hg; in liver 0.161 for Cd, 36.1 for Cu and 0.349 for Pb; in kidney 1.34 for Cd and 0.318 for Pb. Values observed were higher than those found in suburban red fox and therefore, may represent an important bioindicator for the accumulation of toxic metals in urbanized habitats. Keywords Red fox Á Rural habitat Á Stone marten Á Suburban habitat Á Toxic metals In highly industrialised areas with metallurgy, petrochem- ical and fertilizer industries, high levels of arsenic (As), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) have been determined in the air (Sa ´nchez de la Campa et al. 2007). Various anthropogenic emission activities are also a major cause of increased environmental concentrations of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and Pb. Since there is no effective mechanism for toxic element elimination due to their potential toxicity and accumulation in various compartments, chronic lower level intakes have damaging effects on both human and animals (Ikeda et al. 2000). Although it is an essential metal required in the diet, Cu may produce toxic effect such as liver cirrhosis, dermatitis and neurological disorders (Storelli et al. 2007). Lead is one of the most widespread metal pollutants in the envi- ronment, even in rural areas. Mercury levels are biomag- nified within terrestrial food chains and among carnivorous species, but are generally highest in fish-eating animals (Milla ´n et al. 2008). The toxicological impacts of accu- mulated methylated forms of Hg were recorded in the American mink (Mustela vison) (Osowski et al. 1995). Risk of heavy metal exposure for carnivores may exist due to abandoned mines that have undergone little or no post- operational remediation (Reglero et al. 2008). Genotoxic damage in several species of terrestrial vertebrates, caused by pollution near mine sites, was reported in Spain (Milla ´n et al. 2008). Determination of heavy metals in carnivorous mammals is important, given the fact that these animals are at the top of the food web and may therefore, be very sensitive to any ongoing biomagnification processes. There are no mining activities in Croatia. Industrial production is centred in large cities such as Zagreb, Sisak or Rijeka. Pollution from sources causing the accumulation of Cd, Pb and Hg in tissues of free-living animals has been recorded (Reglero et al. 2008). Wild animal species, such N. Bilandz ˇic ´(&) Á M. Sedak Á M. Ðokic ´ Á B. Solomun Á I. Varenina Á Z. Knez ˇevic ´ Department of Veterinary Public Health, Laboratory for Residue Control, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia e-mail: bilandzic@veinst.hr D. Dez ˇd¯ek Laboratory for General Pathology, Department of Pathological Morphology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia A. Slavica Department of Game Biology, Pathology and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 123 Bull Environ Contam Toxicol (2010) 85:486–491 DOI 10.1007/s00128-010-0146-2