medical and biological sciences - Collegium Medicum - Uniwersytet ...

Medical and Biological Sciences, 2008, 22/4, 31-37ORIGINAL ARTICLE / PRACA ORYGINALNAPiotr Kamiński 1 , Nataliya Kurhalyuk 2 , Małgorzata Szady-Grad 3 , Halyna Tkachenko 4 , Mariusz Kasprzak 2 ,Leszek Jerzak 5CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN THE BLOOD OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA CHICKSIN DIFFERENTIATED REGIONS OF POLANDPIERWIASTKI CHEMICZNE WE KRWI PISKLĄT BOCIANA BIAŁEGO CICONIA CICONIAW ZRÓŻNICOWANYCH ŚRODOWISKACH POLSKI1Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz2Institute of Biology and Environment Protection, Department of Animal Physiology, Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk3Chair and Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz4 Department of Hygiene and Toxicology, Danylo Halytskiy Lviv National Medical University5Institute of Biotechnology and Environment Protection, University of Zielona GóraSummaryThe aim of study was to compare the ecophysiologicalbasis for the development of White Stork Ciconia ciconiachicks in differentiated Polish environments. We examinedthe level of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Cd and Pb in theblood of growing chicks, which were raised and fed in avariety of environmental pollution. The regions also representvariety of biogeochemical backgrounds as far as soil andforaging properties are concerned. The investigations werecarried out during stork breeding season 2006. Blood sampleswere collected from young storks developing in relativelypure environment and treated as a control (Kłopot; SWPoland (52°07'56,3'' N, 14°42'10,4'' E). It was compared withCzarnowo (52°02'03,7'' N, 14°57'24,7'' E), located 20 kmaway from Zielona Góra (SW Poland), and treated as suburbs,and with an area near Głogów (51°39'32,6'' N,16°04'49,9'' E; SW Poland), where a copper smelter is situated.We also conducted our research in Cecenowo, a smallPomeranian village near Słupsk (N Poland; 54°38'34,5'' N,17°32'31'' S).In total 182 of White Stork chicks from 33 nests weresurveyed. The age of birds varied from 19 up to 56 days.Samples of investigated wing venous blood were taken foranalyses of chemical element concentration. The content ofelements were then determined using AAS method.We found differences in the concentration of all investigatedelements, except for calcium, in the study regions. Wealso found a high level of cadmium, both in the Pomeranianregion, and polluted are. However, lead concentration washigh only in the Głogów area.Simultaneously we observed a high level of Ca, Mg andFe both in the Pomeranian and polluted areas. Na, K, and Cawere of the highest concentration in the suburbs and pollutedregions, while Zn and Co - in the suburbs and polluted regions,and Cu, and Mn – in the polluted and Pomeranianregions. Thus we can deduce a high degree of environmentalpollution in the Pomeranian region.The findings are the evidence for importance of anthropogenicactivity in the environment in the past, which influencedthe course of biogeochemical processes and causedlocal bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals. Such a casetook place in the Pomeranian village Cecenowo, which weinvestigated. We can conclude that blood research accompaniedby chemical element level studies is helpful to assess thecondition of birds, and give the positive association withmiscellaneous environmental loads. We can also suggest thatanthropogenic processes and activities may play an importantrole in bioaccumulation and economy of free radicals invarious types of environment, but it has not got any connectionwith the type of the region.