CADMIUM IN MOOSE TISSUES: COMPARISON OF DATA FROM MAINE, U.S.A AND FROM TELEMARK, NORWAY

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) was measured in kidneys, livers, and bones of moose (Alces alces) from the 1980 hunting season in Maine. Cadmium was measured in kidneys, livers, and skeletal muscle of moose from 3 areas of Telemark, Norway harvested during the 1983 and 1984 hunting seasons. Concentrations of Cd (g/g dry wt.) were highest in kidneys. Liver concentrations were lower, muscle concentrations were very low, and Cd was minimally detectable in bones. Among moose from Maine, concentrations of Cd in kidney varied from <0.1 to 77 μg/g. Liver concentrations varied from <0.1 to 55 μg/g. Both values varied significantly (P <0.05) with age. Among Telemark moose, mean kidney concentrations of those from the 3 study areas varied from 8.3 to 20.5 μg/g, mean liver concentrations varied from 1.79 to 2.07 μg/g. mean muscle concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.13 μg/g. Concentrations varied with area and were highest from an area near an industrial center. Cadmium concentrations are discussed relative to data from domestic cattle.