Concentrations of zinc, cadmium and lead in the hoof horn of the European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus) / Zawartość cynku, kadmu i ołowiu w ścianie rogowej racicy żubra Europejskiego (Bison bonasus bonasus)

The aim of the study was the assessment of zinc, cadmium and lead concentrations in the hoof horn of the European bison free ranging in Białowieża Primeval Forest.

The investigation material comprised hoof samples collected from animals eliminated during annual selection. Animals were divided depending on gender (males and females). Metals content was determined using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method (ICP-MS). Mean metals concentrations in hoof were: 114.1, 0.15 and 0.45 mg·kg^-1 dry matter for zinc, cadmium and lead, respectively. A significantly correlated dependence at p ≤ 0.05 was observed between the zinc and lead content in the material studied. No statistically significant differences in the metals content were observed depending on gender. It can be stated, that zinc, cadmium and lead concentrations in the hoof wall of the European bison from Białowieża primeval forest are in the reference values determined for the hair coat of other ungulates species