Analysis of Environmental Contamination by Metals Using Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Hair as a Biomonitor: An Appraisal

This study assessed environmental metal and metalloids (TE) levels using hair of Apodemus sylvaticus as a non-lethal biomonitor. TE decreased as follows: Zn > Al > Fe > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Mn > Cd > Se > As > Hg; TE widely distributed in soils as Zn, Al, Fe, and Cu, are more abundant than those of ecotoxicological interest, such as Cd, Se, As and Hg. Cd, Pb, Cu, and Cr concentrations are highly variable, while Zn, Fe, and Mn are less variable. TE in hair are below the threshold levels in soil and decrease the same way in both sexes. Concentrations in soil and hair are significantly related, and their level can be modulated both by homeostatic control of essential metals and absorbance from the soil by keratin. Slight differences in Ni and Cr can be related to the differing behaviour of males and females during reproduction. A scarce tendency toward mercury bioaccumulation has been observed in both sex and age classes; from an ecological point of view, these data suggest that the species is a primary consumer, feeding more on the leaves and seeds than on small invertebrates.