Bioaccumulation of metals and effects of a landfill in small mammals Part III: Structural alterations.

The leachates from the Garraf landfill located in a protected site (NE Spain) contain several potentially toxic substances such as heavy metals. Here we report the histopathological alterations produced by this pollution in wild specimens of an omnivorous species, the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and an insectivorous species, the greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula. Hepatic tissue presented the most severe alterations in both the species, namely cell cycle arrest (apoptosis and necrosis), inflammation, preneoplasic nodules, vacuolation and microsteatosis.

Bioaccumulation of metals and effects of a landfill in small mammals. Part II. The wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus.

We assess the bioaccumulation of metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo, Cr) and effects of landfill leachates on morphological (RI, relative weights), plasma (GPT, GOT, creatinine), and genotoxic (MNT) parameters in wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus, inhabiting close the Garraf landfill site (NE Spain). Due to the high age- and sex-dependent variation in wild populations, we also studied the effect of these biotic factors on the parameters studied. Wood mice from the landfill site, sited in a partially protected area, showed more Cd, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Cr than specimens from the reference site.