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The Labin city area is a locality where local Raša coal had been mined at six localities from the 17th century until the late 1990s, while significant quantities of that coal were used in a local coal-fired power plant during the period from 1970-2000. Raša coal belongs to a class of superhigh-organic-sulfur coal, as it contains high levels of sulfur and selenium which is the reason for conducting previous ecotoxicological studies. Selenium is of a great concern as it is characterised by a narrow range between dietary essentiality and toxicity. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of Se and some trace metals (iron, copper, arsenic, cadmium and lead) in different tissues of wild pigeons (Columba livia) collected within the vicinity of the mentioned industrial areas and to compare them with those originating from an uncontaminated area. Element analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The average values of Se in muscle, liver, kidney and brain of birds were 0.344, 0.575, 1.011 and 0.233 mg/kg fresh weight (f.w.), respectively. Only values measured in muscle tissue were significantly higher in pigeons from the area in comparison to those from the uncontaminated area. Still, these values were below the maximum levels permitted in food (55 - 100µg/kg). These results are consistent with the increased concentration of selenium in soil, water and vegetables from the study area, which means that wild pigeons are good biomarkers and can provide additional insight into the environment in which they live. |
