Abstract
Metals (trace elements and rare earth elements, REEs) were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in blood, the liver, the kidney and muscle of ex situ spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus stellaris). The controlled environment in which these elasmobranchs were hosted allowed to assess a baseline level of metals in the different organs since exposure via water and food can be easily monitored. The highest arsenic, chromium, copper, and iron values were found in the liver, cobalt in the kidney, and cadmium and rubidium in muscle. The highest total trace elements content was found in the trend liver (75 mg kg−1) > blood (33 mg kg−1) > muscle (31 mg kg−1) > kidney (10 mg kg−1), while the ΣREEs was the liver (30 μg kg−1) > muscle (15 μg kg−1) > kidney (13 μg kg−1) > blood (4.1 μg kg−1). Between REEs, the most represented element was scandium. Significant differences in the concentration of metals among organs were observed for almost all elements. Nonessential elements were generally lower and essential elements higher in the examined specimens compared to wild elasmobranchs, suggesting a close relationship between a balanced diet and animal welfare.
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Data supporting the findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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This research was funded by the Italian Health Ministry Research Grants (Project n. IZS PLV 01/15RC).
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All authors contributed to the study. Activity planning, material preparation, clinical examination and data collection were in charge of Barbara Biancani. Husbandry of animals was in charge of Cristiano Da Rugna. Sabina Pederiva performed methodology optimization and chemical analysis. Stefania Squadrone wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript. Review and editing of the final manuscript were performed by Stefania Squadrone, Barbara Biancani, Cristiano Da Rugna, and Livio Favaro. Supervision was performed by Maria Cesarina Abete. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Squadrone, S., Biancani, B., Da Rugna, C. et al. Trace and rare earth element bioaccumulation in the spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus stellaris). Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 70262–70268 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20886-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20886-8