2013•South African Journal of Wildlife ResearchRequires access
Lead and Cadmium Levels in Liver, Kidney and Muscle of Harvested Wild Springbok (Antidorcus marsupialis) Under Extensive Management in Southern and Southeastern Namibia
Kudakwashe Magwedere, J. Shimwino, Y. Hemberger, Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman, Emmanuel Muchimbidziki Midzi, Francis Dziva
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Abstract
The aims of the study were to assess heavy metals (lead and cadmium) values in meat and offal from harvested springbok. For cadmium (Cd), mean concentrations in liver and kidney were 0.10 ± 0.04 mg/kg, 0.33 ± 0.05 mg/kg and 1.04 ± 0.15 mg/kg, 0.91 ± 0.12 mg/kg for lead (Pb). None of the samples had a Cd level above the limits set for the liver (0.5 mg/kg) and 1.0 mg/kg set for the kidney while two of the samples had a Pb level above the limits for the liver (0.5 mg/kg) and 12 samples had Pb values above the limits for the kidney (0.5 mg/kg). The mean Pb and Cd concentrations in muscles were below the detection limit. In the current study, interpretation of the results was limited by the small number of positive samples; however, values were within the range previously reported in literature for wildlife species elsewhere. Key words: cadmium, kidney, lead, liver, muscle, springbok.