ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Effect of Environmental Contamination
by Fluorine Compounds on Selected Horse Tissues
Elżbieta Bombik1, Antoni Bombik2, Krzysztof Górski1, Leon Saba3,
Teresa Bombik1, Katarzyna Rymuza2
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1Department of Reproduction and Animal Hygiene, University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce,
Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
2Department of Agricultural Experimentation, University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce,
Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
3Department Animal Hygiene and Environment, University of Life Sciences,
Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2011;20(1):37-43
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Our objective was to evaluate the effects of distance from the source of emission on fluorine content in
selected tissues. Studies were conducted in the Central Pomerania region in 2004-06. The studies included stables
located in two zones: zone I near the mouth of the Wisła River 50 km west of the source of emission, and
zone II near the mouth of the Łeba River 80 to 100 km west of the source of fluorine emission. Soil, feed, and
horse tissue (muscles and bones) samples (eight from each type of material) were taken in each zone. The tissues
were sampled from 48 horses of different breeds, 24 animals from each zone. Horse tissues were grouped
according to age: group 1 – horses to 7 years old, group 2 – horses age over 7 to 15, and group 3 – horses age
15 and over. Fluorine measurements in the soil, feed, and tissues studied were taken by means of the ion-selective
electrode working with an ORION ion-meter. Multiple comparison of mean values by Tukey’s test was
used. Significantly higher fluorine levels were determined in the soils, feeds, and tissues of animals raised in
zone I in the vicinity of sources of fluorine emission, compared with zone II. We found influence of horse age
on the average muscle and bone levels of fluorine in the animals investigated. A significantly higher level of
this element was recorded in the bones of the oldest horses.