Volume 108, August 2014, Pages 62–69
Elements levels in dogs from “triangle of death” and different areas of Campania region (Italy)
Highlights
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- Elements in hair and blood of dogs from Campania region.
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- Identification of a hot spot of contamination in the less contaminated area.
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- Concern about the levels of chromium, nickel and arsenic.
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- Possible “background levels” contamination due to volcanic emissions.
Abstract
In
the last twenty years, many concerns have raised in Campania region
(Southern Italy) about illegal waste dumping and toxic waste and their
possible adverse effects on health. Many human activities are considered
to be important sources of environmental pollutants, elements among
them. In this study, pet dogs were enrolled as environmental sentinels
from three different areas of Campania, with a different degree of
pollution, evaluating elements in blood and hair. The obtained data
indicated that dogs from less polluted area were exposed to a hot spot
of pollution, as only animals from one city (Sessa Aurunca) presented
elements concentrations very close to toxic levels. When excluding these
animals, the area proved to be the less contaminated. The present
report confirm the higher degree of pollution of the most industrialized
areas, and a certain concern originates from Cr, Ni and As, which are
present as levels well above toxic thresholds.
These
data are indicative of a reduced pollution of the areas considered by Cd
and Pb, but arise concern for Hg, As, Cr and Ni, which reach
concentrations high enough to impact dogs and humans health, in term of
acute (in the city of Sessa Aurunca) and chronic toxicity (i.e.
reproduction impairment, endocrine disruption, immunosuppression).
Additional
studies are necessary to better define not only the precise
distribution of hot spots of pollution, but also the real impact of such
an exposure on the health of dogs, in term of endocrine balance and/or
immune system activity.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Dog;
- Blood;
- Hair;
- Elements;
- Campania;
- Pollution
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
+39 0547338944; fax: +39 0547338941.
- 1
- Both authors have contributed equally to this work.
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