TY - JOUR
T1 - Metal exposure and accumulation patterns in free-range cows (Bos taurus) in a contaminated natural area: Influence of spatial and social behavior
AU - Roggeman, S.
AU - van den Brink, N.W.
AU - van Praet, N.
AU - Blust, R.
AU - Bervoets, L.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Possible effects of spatial metal distribution, seasonal-, ecological- and ethological parameters, on the
metal exposure of cows were investigated. Therefore the habitat use, vegetation selection and foraging behavior of two free ranging Galloway herds in a metal polluted nature reserve were observed. Metal concentrations in soil, vegetation, hair, blood and feces were measured. Although both herds lived in the same reserve, their metal exposure differed significantly. A high consumption of soft rush by herd 1 during winter for instance was responsible for a large increase in daily Cd intake. The results of this study suggest that the exposure and health risks of large grazers can probably not only be predicted by general monitoring of soil and vegetation pollution. Also detailed information about the occurring vegetation types, spatial habitat use together with the social- and foraging behavior and diet selection of the species need to be studied.
AB - Possible effects of spatial metal distribution, seasonal-, ecological- and ethological parameters, on the
metal exposure of cows were investigated. Therefore the habitat use, vegetation selection and foraging behavior of two free ranging Galloway herds in a metal polluted nature reserve were observed. Metal concentrations in soil, vegetation, hair, blood and feces were measured. Although both herds lived in the same reserve, their metal exposure differed significantly. A high consumption of soft rush by herd 1 during winter for instance was responsible for a large increase in daily Cd intake. The results of this study suggest that the exposure and health risks of large grazers can probably not only be predicted by general monitoring of soil and vegetation pollution. Also detailed information about the occurring vegetation types, spatial habitat use together with the social- and foraging behavior and diet selection of the species need to be studied.
KW - hedgehog erinaceus-europaeus
KW - potentially-toxic metals
KW - dry-matter intake
KW - heavy-metals
KW - cadmium accumulation
KW - trace-elements
KW - environmental exposure
KW - modeling cadmium
KW - soil ingestion
KW - mining area
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.09.006
M3 - Article
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 172
SP - 186
EP - 199
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
ER -
