Author/Editor		Bulog, Boris; Mihajl, Katarina; Jeran, Zvonka; Toman, Mihael J
Title		Trace element concentrations in the tissues of Proteus anguinus (Amphibia, Caudata) and the surrounding environment
Type		članek
Source		Water Air Soil Pollut
Vol. and No.		Letnik 136
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 147-63
Language		eng
Abstract		Abstract. The concentrations of some essential (Cu, Zn, Se) and some toxic elements (Hg, As) were determined in tissues (liver, kidneys, integument, and muscle) of the endemic cave salamander, Proteus anguinus Laurenti 1768 and Proteus anguinus parkelj ssp.n. captured in the Planina Cave, Kompolje Cave, and Jelševnik, all situated within the Dinaric Karst in Slovenia. The highest amounts of selenium and mercury were found in the liver of Proteus anguinus specimens from all three localities. Some of the animals from the Planing Cave showed higher concentrations of copper in the liver and muscle. Pigmented subspecies of Proteus from Jelševnik showed increased values of arsenic in the integument and of zinc in the liver and integument. The liver of the animals contained the highest amounts of the metals analysed and therefore may be considered as a target organ. Metal levels were also measured in the cave water and sediments. The waters were not polluted with metals. However, the metals were relatively high in the sediments, but not to levels considered contaminated. In addition to our study of metal concentrations in Proteus tissues and habitats, several water quality parameters were measured in the water of each locality. The main differences between the three localities concerned dissolved oxygen concentration and saturation, while all other physical and chemical parameters were characteristic of the aquatic environment in the calcareous Karst region.
Descriptors		COPPER ZINC SELENIUM PROTEIDAE WATER POLLUTANTS, CHEMICAL MERCURY ARSENIC LIVER MUSCLES KIDNEY SKIN NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS SPECTROPHOTOMETRY