ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Biomonitoring of Lead and Fluoride
Contamination in Forests Using Chemical
Analysis of Hard Tissues of Roe Deer
(Capreolus capreolus L.)
Sylwia Sobota1, Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka2, Izabela Gutowska3, Michał Kupiec4,
Elżbieta Dusza4, Zygmunt Machoy2, Dariusz Chlubek2
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1Department of Medical Chemistry,
2Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry,
Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
3Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition,
Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 24, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland
4Department of Environmental Protection and Development, West Pomeranian Technological University,
J. Słowackiego 17, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2011;20(2):435-443
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Our study assesses environmental lead and fluoride pollution in West Pomeranian forests in Poland, on
the basis of chemical analysis of antlers and skull bones of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) from the surroundings
of Szczecin and Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland. Lead was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry,
and fluorides by using an ion-selective electrode. Our study indicates greater lead contamination in the
forests near Drawsko Pomorskie than in the forests near Szczecin. The cause may be their long-term exploitation
as a military area. The roe deer population near Szczecin is exposed to increased fluoride pollution, but
the concentration of fluoride in hard tissues of roe deer has diminished considerably in comparison with data
collected 10 years prior to our study.