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Considering the risk of entry of mercury into the environment and food chain a comprehensive environmental monitoring program was conducted in the gas field Molve. Among other biomarkers, pheasant organs were analysed for total mercury concentration by ICP-MS method. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of mercury in the collected samples from 2008 to 2018, monitor its changes over a last ten years period and assess its possible adverse impact on human and animal health. Adult pheasants (n=5) were collected during hunting season around natural gas treatment plant Molve 9, 10, 11 and 12. Total mercury is expressed in μg/g wet weight of the sample. Statistics were processed by Statistica 13.4 software. During the last ten years the range of the median mercury concentration values in pheasant organs were 0.0003-0.0015, 0.001-0.003, 0.0021- 0.005 and 0.0004-0.0016 μg/g for muscle, liver, kidney and brain, respectively. Median Hg in all organs slightly differ from year to year, but generally show consistent pattern in fluctuations, especially a slight decline in value over the last three years. Comparing our results with results from previous investigated period (1995-2008) we concluded that they show mainly consistency and slight decline in value, and that investigated area near Molve still belongs to low mercury contaminated region. In that context it can be stated that pheasant tissues as food are completely safe for human health. Results also point to that research and production of natural gas contaminated by mercury does not threaten human health and the environment.

BFRs (brominated flame retardants) have been used as flame retardants for the last 60 years, but their negative effects on animals and possibly humans have been observed only in the last 20 years, as this is when they began to be the subject of more intense studies. They can migrate out of products to which they are added and enter the environment ; consequently they have been detected in a variety of samples, including the atmosphere, lake and sea sediments, human and pet (dogs, cats) serum and food, cow fat and milk, moos liver, arctic fox and polar bear adipose tissue, bald eagles and herring gull eggs. The widespread presence of flame retardants in the indoor environment makes domestic pets, who share human environment and even food, a perfect indicator for biomonitoring studies. Among BFRs, the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have received the most attention. We measured the concentrations of some PBDE congeners (BDE 28, BDE 47, BDE 66, BDE 100, BDE 99, BDE 85, BDE 154, BDE 153, and BDE 183) in the serum of 20 obese and 20 normal house dogs. We found no statistical difference between the concentrations of all PBDE congeners in both groups of dogs. Average values were 0.0190±0.0302 ng g-1 and 0.0112±0.0091 ng g-1, respectively. BDE 47 and BDE 99 were the predominant congeners in both groups of dogs.

During a period of eleven years (2004-2015), as part of comprehensive monitoring of mercury levels in the vicinity of the natural gas production and treatment plant CPS Molve, biological samples from cows from households in the village of Molve were collected. The samples of milk, blood, urine, faeces, and hair from three cows were taken on ten occasions and analysed for total mercury concentration. Due to the implementation of a new analytical method in 2009, the results are presented separately for the samples collected 2004-2008 (analysed by CV-AAS) and for the samples collected 2010- 2015 (analysed by AMA254). Median mercury concentrations in milk, blood, urine (μg ml-1), faeces (μg g-1 on wet weight basis), and hair (μg g-1) in 2004-2008 monitoring were 0.001, 0.001-0.009, 0.001-0.002, 0.001- 0.041, 0.001- 0.049 and in 2010-2015 0.00001-0.0031, 0.00002- 0.0002, 0.00002-0.0019, 0.0027-0.0075, 0.0024- 0.015, respectively. The highest concentrations of mercury were found in hair and faeces, and the lowest in the blood of tested animals, which corresponds to the toxicokinetics of inorganic mercury after long term exposure to normal ambient air concentrations. Generally, the measured concentrations are very low and below the formerly prescribed maximum permitted concentration of mercury in milk. Also, they do not represent a danger to the health of the people and cows that live in the area potentially contaminated with mercury due to natural gas production.

Given the ever-growing need for monitoring the levels of heavy metals in both environment and the wildlife we have selected organs (brain, liver and kidney) and muscles of roe deer as a parameter reflecting these levels. The premise of this work was to establish the baseline for different essential (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe) and trace (Cu, Mn, Zn and Al) metals in adult roe deer (herbivorous browser) collected in western Croatia in 2014. The concentration of these elements was determined using validated digestion and ICP-OES methods and is expressed as mgkg-1 dry weight. The highest mean copper, manganese and iron concentrations were determined in liver and kidney tissues, aluminium accumulated in muscle tissue and zinc in kidney>muscle>liver tissues. Standard high concentrations of essential elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) were observed in all tested tissues. Concentrations of investigated metals are dependent on the vegetation period, and different physiological activities of the animal, like pregnancy in females, antler growth in males, etc. Future studies will take this conditions in consideration.

In this study, because of the increased prevalence of skeletal system deformities in natural populations of fish from the Karin Sea in Croatia (i.e. in grass goby, black goby and sandsmelt), and in order to exclude essential and toxic metals as a possible cause of these changes, we determinate concentrations of Li, B, Na, Mg, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Hg, Pb, Al, Cs, U, Bi and Ti in sediment and liver of grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus) with clinically visible deformities. Sediment and grass goby with no visible deformities collected from the nearby Novigrad Sea were chosen as control group. Concentrations of selected elements were determined using ICP-MS method and are expressed as mgkg-1 wet weight. The results of this preliminary study suggest that other causes could be responsible for observed changes.

Cadmium occurs naturally in the environment and as an anthropogenic pollutant. Exposure to low concentrations of cadmium is inevitable and may produce toxic effects. Another important aspect of cadmium toxicity is its interaction, often antagonistic, with essential elements such as selenium. The aim of this study was to highlight the risks of long-term exposure to low cadmium concentrations, using a scientific and chemical approach and hares (Lepus europaeus Pallas) as model organisms in a field study. Two study areas were monitored. Levels of cadmium and selenium were quantified in the organs of hares, the expression of metallothioneins I + II and the products of lipid peroxidation were determined. The median cadmium concentrations (wet weight) in the muscle, liver, kidney and brain of hares from an exposed group ranged from 0.033 to 0.037, 0.763 to 1.054, 3.090 to 16.594 and 0.016 to 0.087µg g-1 , respectively ; whereas, the median selenium concentrations (wet weight) ranged from 0.100 to 0.108, 0.153 to 0.332, 0.677 to 0.701 and 0.078 to 0.116µg g-1 , respectively. Expression of the metallothioneins I + II proteins was observed in tissues. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents, increased with the cadmium concentration. Further research on long-term exposure to low concentrations of cadmium in the environment is needed.

Uslijed neizbježne uporabe toksičnih metala u raznim granama suvremene industrijske proizvodnje te uslijed urbanih onečišćenja našeg okoliša u današnje je vrijeme nemoguće izbjeći izlaganje takvim tvarima. Dostupni znanstveni podaci ukazuju na statistički značajnu korelaciju između voda onečišćenih toksičnim metalima i količine tih metala u akvatičnim organizmima, odnosno u organizmima njihovih konzumenata. Hrvatska agencija za hranu provela tijekom 2012. i 2013. godine istraživanje koje je za cilj imao utvrditi razinu onečišćenosti toksičnim metalima (kadmij, olovo, živa i arsen) akvatičnih organizama te procijeniti razinu rizika na zdravlje potrošača. Uzorkovanje je provedeno tijekom proljeća i jeseni 2012. i 2013. godine u Zagrebu, Splitu, Rijeci i Osijeku. Ukupno je uzorkovan 161 uzorak morske i slatkovodne ribe, rakova i školjkaša te glavonožaca. Od 161 uzorka analiziranog na prisustvo žive, 9 uzoraka prelazilo je NDK vrijednosti. Razina žive bila je ispod granice kvantifikacije kod 25 uzoraka, a detekcije 1 uzorka. Najveći medijan koncentracije žive utvrđen je u skupini morskih riba (0, 095 mg/kg), a najniži u rakovima i školjkašima (0, 025 mg/kg).. Koncentracije olova veće od dopuštenih utvrđene samo kod 2 uzorka riba (1, 5%). Medijan koncentracije kadmija bio je najniži u uzorcima slatkovodne i morske ribe, nešto viši kod glavonožaca, a najviši u skupini rakova i školjkaša. Koncentracije kadmija veće od dopuštenih utvrđene su samo kod 2 uzorka (2, 06%) mišićnog mesa riba. Najviši medijan koncentracije arsena (3, 51 mg/kg) zabilježen je kod glavonožaca kod kojih je 30% uzoraka imalo koncentracije veće od 16, 9 mg/kg. Utvrđeno je kako se prosječna tjedna izloženost metil- živi (MeHg) kod prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama kreće u rasponu od 0, 01 do 0, 07 μg MeHg /kg t.m. tjedno, a kod visokih konzumenata od 0, 035 do 0, 409 μg MeHg /kg t.m. tjedno. Prosječna tjedna izloženost anorganskoj živi kod prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama kreće se u rasponu od 0, 002 do 0, 013 μg Hg/kg t.m. tjedno, a kod visokih konzumenata od 0, 023 do 0, 144 μg MeHg /kg t.m. tjedno. Procijenjena prehrambena izloženost olovu kod prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama kreće se od 0, 002 do 0, 005 μg/kg t.m./dan. Kod visokih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama prehrambena izloženost olovu kreće se od 0, 013 do 0, 042 μg/kg t.m./dan. Prosječna tjedna izloženost kadmiju kod prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama kretala se od 0, 001 do 0, 007 μg Cd/kg t.m. tjedno. Prosječna tjedna izloženost kadmiju kod visokih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama kretala se od 0, 047 do 0, 115 μg Cd/kg t.m. tjedno. Prehrambena izloženost ukupnom arsenu (uAs) kod prosječnih konzumenata kretala se od 0, 003 do 0, 120 μg/kg t.m./dan, a kod visokih konzumenata od 0, 013 do 1, 857 μg/kg t.m./dan. Procijenjena prehrambena izloženost aAs kod prosječnih konzumenata kretala se od 0, 001 do 0, 003 μg/kg t.m./dan, a kod visokih konzumenata od 0, 018 do 0, 053 μg/kg t.m./dan. Iz procijenjene prosječne tjedne izloženosti metil-živi visokih konzumenata vidljivo je kako se takva izloženost nalazi znatno ispod utvrđene vrijednosti TWI od 1, 3 μg/kg tjelesne mase te da je rizik za zdravlje potrošača zanemariv. Rizik za zdravlje prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama još je zanemariviji jer su procijenjene prosječne tjedne izloženosti metil-živi kod daleko ispod utvrđene vrijednosti TWI. Iz procijenjene prosječne tjedne izloženosti anorganskoj živi visokih konzumenata vidljivo je kako se takva izloženost nalazi znatno ispod utvrđene vrijednosti TWI od 4 μg/kg tjelesne mase te da je rizik za zdravlje potrošača zanemariv. Rizik za zdravlje prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama još je zanemariviji jer se procijenjene prosječne tjedne izloženosti anorganskoj živi daleko ispod utvrđene vrijednosti TWI. Vrijednosti prehrambene izloženost olovu visokih i prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama manje su od utvrđenih vrijednosti BMDL01 za štetne učinke na sistolički krvni tlak (1, 50 μg/kg t.m./dan) i BMDL10 unosnih vrijednosti za prevalenciju štetnih učinaka na kronične bolesti bubrega (0, 63 μg/kg t.m./dan). Kod visokih konzumenata MOE za kardiovaskularne učinke kreće se u rasponu od 35, 71 do 115, 38, a za bubrežne učinke od 15 do 48, 46. Kod prosječnih konzumenata MOE za kardiovaskularne učinke kreće se u rasponu od 300 do 750, a za bubrežne učinke od 126 do 315. Kod visokih i prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama prosječna prehrambena izloženost kadmiju nalazi se znatno ispod granične vrijednosti od 2, 5 μg/kg tjelesne mase tjedno te se stoga može reći kako je razina rizika vrlo niska. Procijenjene vrijednosti prehrambene izloženosti aAs visokih i prosječnih konzumenata akvatičnih organizama nalaze se ispod raspona utvrđenih vrijednosti BMDL01 za kožne lezije (2, 2-5, 7 odnosno 0, 93-3, 7 μg/kg t.m./dan), karcinom pluća (0, 34- 0, 69 μg/kg t.m./dan) i karcinom mokraćnog mjehura (3, 2-7, 5 μg/kg t.m./dan). Kod visokih konzumenata MOE za kožne lezije kreće se u rasponu od 108 do 317, za karcinom pluća od 13 do 38, a za karcinom mokraćnog mjehura od 142 do 417. Kod prosječnih konzumenata MOE za kožne lezije kreće u rasponu od 1900 do 5700, za karcinom pluća od 230 do 690, a za karcinom mokraćnog mjehura od 2500 do 7500.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic spiral bacteria Leptospira spp. that can affect both humans and animals. Despite the fact that Leptospira spp. can infect different reservoirs and consequently make contamination of various habitats, high humidity and stagnant water reservoirs are considered as predominant factors for survival of leptospires in nature. In this study we have analyzed sera samples from 17 wild boars collected at lowland area of Žutica and 27 samples from suburban hilly area of Medvednica Mountain. Detection of specific antibodies were performed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and only titres >100 were considered positive. High overall seroprevalence detected at both sites comprehended 35 % of wild boars from Žutica (conf. level 95%, 6.95-10.05) and 46 % of wild boars from Medvednica region (conf. level 95%, 11.05-15.95). From positive samples, only two were positive for just one serovar all others demonstrated cross-reactivity with antigens of other serovars. Titres in samples from Žutica region ranged from 100 to 1000, and from Medvednica region ranged from 100 to 3200. The most frequent presumptive infective serovar at both sites belonged to serogroup Australis that was in Žutica region followed by serogroup Sejroe and in Medvednica region by serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona. Occurrence of different infective serovars could be easily explained by the geographical locations of those two sites. Circulating serovars from the serogroup Australis, Sejroe and Pomona are mainly harbored by mouse like rodents and their presence at different Croatian forest areas is already reported in previous studies. On the other hand, proximity of Medvednica to a large city could be the cause of increased prevalence of serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae that is mainly carried by a rat. In conclusion, high incidence of leptospirosis among wild boars reveals their potential to maintain and spread disease, especially in suburban areas.

Amitraz (formamidine) is a veterinary and agricultural pharmaceutical drug that is used worldwide as an acaricide and insecticide in many species but it is not approved for horses. In mammals amitraz has a highly complex pharmacological activity that can be related to stimulation of alfa-2 adrenergic receptors. A three year old male croatian warmblood was admitted at the clinic with a history of of an acute abdominal pain, depression and mild ataxia in the last 24 hours. He was sprayed with an amitraz product (Taktic®, 12, 5%, Intervet) two days previous to referral. Physical examination revealed depression, moderate dehydration, poor gut motility, normal peritoneal fluid and ingesta filled, firm pelvic flexure. A complete hemathology and serum biochemistry blood profile showed no specific changes. The horse was thoroughly washed with a chlorhexidine soap and treated symptomatically with IV polyionic crystalloid fluids, metamizol, flunixine meglumine and mulitple doses of mineral oil and water per os. The following day the horse already showed improved gut motility and softer pelvic flexure on rectal palpation. On day three, gut motility returned to normal, rectal palpation of pelvic flecture showed no abnormality, and there were no signs of ataxia and depression. The use of alfa-2 adrenergic anatgonists and yohimbin for treatment amitraz intoxication is described in the literature, but in this case patient recovered fully within 3 days only with medical therapy for colonic impation after the initial wash.

In the last two decades (1990-2012), as part of a comprehensive monitoring of the eco-system, earthworms were collected from four locations in the vicinity of the natural gas production and treatment plant Molve, Croatia. Their tissues were analyzed for total mercury concentration by cold vapour AAS. The range of the median mercury concentration values (wet weight) in earthworms were 0.004-0.283, 0.013-0.260, 0.005-0.317 and 0.009-0.191 μg/g for Molve 9, Molve 10, Molve 11 and Molve 12 location, respectively. Although the results of mercury measurements in earthworm tissues from different locations vary in a wide range of values, integrated results of all measurements during last twenty years period demonstrate small but constant decline in concentration values, especially after the year 2004. Comparing our results with results published in available data from Europe and some areas of Croatian on mercury concentration in earthworms it can be concluded that area investigated in this research belongs to moderately mercury contaminated region. Nevertheless, further eco-monitoring and mercury measurements in various biological samples are important for more complete interpretation of results and will be continued.

The aim of this study was to quantify the concentration of total mercury in tissues of hares Lepus europaeas Pallas, that are used as bioindicators of environmental pollution by heavy metals due to the complete integration of the biotope. The study conducted during 2010, included two study groups of hares, one from a polluted and the other from an unpolluted area. The polluted area was located near the largest natural gas production and treatment plant Molve, in Croatia. Their organs (brain, muscle, liver and kidney) were analysed for total mercury concentration using advanced mercury analyser AMA 254 (Leco, USA). The range of the median mercury concentration values in hare organs from the polluted area were (0.022 to 0.102) μg g-1 d. w., (0.013 to 0.046) μg g-1 d. w., (0.058 to 0.189) μg g-1 d. w., and (0.138 to 0.406) μg g-1 d. w. for the brain, muscle, liver, and kidney, respectively. The range of the median mercury concentration values in hare organs from the unpolluted area were [(0.017 to 0.040), (0.006 to 0.022), (0.011 to 0.031), and (0.019 to 0.223)] μg g-1 d. w. for the brain, muscle, liver, and kidney, respectively. The concentration of total mercury was signifi cantly higher in the liver (p=0.012) and kidney (p=0.022) of hares from contaminated areas than in the liver and kidney of hares from the unpolluted area. When comparing the results obtained in this study with the results published in the available literature on mercury concentration in hare’s tissue, it can be concluded that the polluted area investigated in this research belongs to low mercury-contaminated area.

Cilj ovog rada bio je procjeniti stupanj kontaminacije divljih svinja iz nizinske Hrvatske teškim metalima (kadmijem, olovom i živom) te istražiti odnos iste kontaminacije i oksidacijskog stresa u njihovim tkivima kako bi se procijenila mogućnost korištenja malondialdehida (MDA) kao biomarkera kontaminacije, što osim značenja u ekotoksikologiji može ima značaj u procjeni higjenske ispravnosti namirnica životinjskog porijekla. U radu su mjerene koncentracije kadmija, žive, olova i malondialdehida (MDA) u tkivima bubrega, jetre i mišića divljih svinja. Koncentracija žive je mjerena u živinom analizatoru AMA 254 (LECO, USA) nakon vlažne digestije u zatvorenom sustavu, koncentracije olova i kadmija su odreñivane atomskim apsorpcijskim spektrometrom Perkin Elmer Analyst 600 (Shelton, SAD), dok su koncentracije MDA izmjerene metodom tekućinske kromatografije visoke djelotvornosti na TSP-130 sustavu (Thermo Separation Products, Inc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA, SAD). U bubrezima je izmjerena najviša koncentracija kadmija, u jetri najviša koncentracija olova i MDA, dok su koncentracije žive u tkivima bila relativno niske. Izmjerene koncentracije kadmija su više u odnosu na europske divlje svinje, koncentracije olova su približno jednake, dok su izmjerene koncentracije žive znatno niže nego u europskih divljih svinja. U tkivima gdje imamo veće odlaganje spomenutih metala, izmjerene su više koncentracije MDA (jetra, bubreg) u odnosu na mišiće. Uočeno je da je korelacija koncentracije MDA sa koncentracijama teških metala u tkivima mladih životinja (1 do 3 godine starosti) veća u odnosu na tkiva starih životinja (5 do 6 godina). Dokazana je statistički značajna povezanost koncentracije MDA sa koncentracijama kadmija u burezima svih divljih svinja i sa koncentracijama olova u bubrezima mladih divljih svinja. Što se tiče higijenske ispravnosti mišićnog tkiva divljih svinja, u petini uzoraka koncentracije olova i kadmija su bile iznad koncentracija propisanih Pravilnikom. U polovini uzoraka jetre su utvrđene koncentracije kadmija iznad propisanih Pravilnikom, dok je koncentracija olova u petini uzoraka bila iznad najviše dopuštene količine (NDK). U svim uzorcima bubrega utvrđene su koncentracije kadmija iznad najviše dopuštene količine Pravilnikom, dok je koncentracija olova u samo dva uzorka bila iznad NDK.

Kadmij (Cd), olovo (Pb), živa (Hg) i arsen (As) sastavni su dio Zemljine biosfere, ne razgrađuju se već kruže u prirodi u različitim oksidacijskim i kemijskim oblicima. Čovjekovim djelovanjem povećavaju se prirodno prisutne razine tih elemenata u okolišu. Vodene i zračne struje prenose ih na velike udaljenosti od izvora onečišćenja, tako dolaze u tlo i biljke, a prehrambenim lancem i u životinje te čovjeka. Hrana biljnog i životinjskog podrijetla, uz elemente esencijalne za organizam, sadrži i elemente kao Cd, Hg, Pb i As koji nemaju poznatu funkciju u organizmu. Ti elementi u malim količinama mogu biti (otrovni) štetni, a njihovi toksični učinci ovise o unesenoj (dozi) količini, oksidacijskom stanju i kemijskom obliku. Oni imaju sposobnost nakupljanja u organizmu, ograničena im je mogućnost detoksikacije, sporo se izlučuju iz organizma, a zajedničko obilježje i m je višestruko toksično djelovanje na organe kao što su pluća, bubrezi, jetra, žuč i probavni trakt. Divljač se, kao predstavnik divljeg svijeta šume i njenih rubnih dijelova, smatra pogodnim bioindikatorom eventualne onečišćenosti okoliša navedenim elementima.Razine Cd, Pb, Hg i As u domaćih i divljih životinja u pravilu se uvelike razlikuju jer divlje životinje imaju slobodu izbora hrane, prehrana im ovisi o sezonskoj raspoloživosti određene vrste hrane, hrane se na velikom teritoriju te većinom žive puno duže od domaćih životinja kojima je prehrana jednolična, kontrolirana, a time i nižih razina Cd, Pb, Hg i As. U Republici Hrvatskoj ne postoji nacionalna legislativa s obzirom na najviše dopuštene količine teških metala u mišićnom tkivu i iznutricama divljih životinja koje se koriste u prehrani, stoga su u procjeni zdravstvene ispravnosti mesa i iznutrica divljači korištene vrijednosti Pravilnika o najvećim dopuštenim količinama određenih kontaminanata u hrani (NN, 154/08) pod nazivljem meso i iznutrice odnosno jetra i bubreg goveda, ovaca, svinja i peradi. Pravilnikom o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o najvećim dopuštenim količinama određenih kontaminanata u hrani (NN, 78/2011) u potpunosti su izbrisane vrijednosti za arsen (kao i željezo i nikal) koje se mogu naći u hrani, što znači da razine ukupnog arsena i u tkivima divljači više ne podliježu zakonskim propisima. Procjena izloženosti ljudi Cd, Hg, Pb i As iz hrane tj. mesa i iznutrica divlje svinje, običnog jelena i srne, temeljena je na izmjerenim koncentracijama tih elemenata (medijanu koncentracije) objavljenima u Stručnoj studiji. U nedostatku točnih podataka o količini konzumiranog mesa i iznutrica divljači prosječne odrasle osobe u Hrvatskoj, u procjeni izloženosti korišteni su podaci iz Stat ističkog ljetopisa 2011. Državnog zavoda za statistiku o godišnjem prosjeku potrošnje divljači i mesa kunića tj. jestivih iznutrica po članu kućanstva. Prema rezultatima Stručne studije, lovci i članovi njihova kućanstva učestalije konzumiraju divljač pa zbog toga unose i veće količine Cd, Pb, Hg i As od prosjeka populacije. Za pretpostaviti je da količina konzumiranog mesa divljači uvelike premašuje količinu konzumiranih iznutrica gdje su nađene više razine elemenata. Time je i rizik od unosa navedenih ele menata u količini koja bi premašila preporučene vrijednosti malen, čak i u ovom dijelu populacije. Osjetljivim populacijskih skupinama, djeci, trudnicama i dojiljama preporuča se ne konzumirati iznutrice divljači. Opća populacija Hrvatske prosječnom konzumacijom mesa pa i iznutrica divljači od nekoliko puta godišnje zanemarivo će povećati unos Cd, Pb, Hg i As hranom. Iznimka je konzumacija bubrega divljih svinja kojima će se unijeti nešto više Cd no ni te količine neće premašiti dopušteni tjedni unos. S obzirom na nutritivnu vrijednost mesa divljači i gotovo zanemariv unos toksičnih elemenata, nema preporuka vezanih za količinu konzumiranog mesa divljači.

On 19 April 2010 in the hunting ground adjacent to the Velebit Nature Park near natural water hole the jackal (Canis aureus) corpse was found, and the day later a dead European brown bear at a distance of 200 m was found as well (coordinates: X 5545067, Y 4906858). There were no visible injuries on bear carcass ; only on the front legs the vomited watery content was found. On three spots near the water found were baits consisting of meat, bones, and dark blue compact granules, which indicated that they were placed after the last rain, or a maximum of 6 days ago. On April 21 the veterinarian from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Zagreb accompanied by police officers visited the site. Veterinarian performed autopsy and found a bloating corpse, moderate autolysis and congestion of organs. Liver and kidney tissue samples and entire ligated stomach were taken. All baits found along the water hole were collected too. Frozen tissue samples and baits were sent to the police forensic laboratory. In the stomach a small amount of liquid bluish content was found. By the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) the presence of carbofuran (insecticide from the carbamate group) was determined in the stomach content and in the baits. In kidney and liver tissue the presence of the carbofuran was proven by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with mean measured concentrations of 2.695 and 12.650 ppm, respectively. Based on the findings of high concentrations of carbofuran in liver and kidney tissue, a short distance between baits along the water hole and the place where the corpse was found, with certainty we claim the animal was per acutely poisoned by this compound. This is the first proven record of a poisoned bear in Croatia, although the bait was probably not targeted to bears.

The author comments results of article "Concentration of selected metals in liver, kidney and muscle of the red deer (Cervus elaphus)", written by Gasparik et al., published in Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A - Toxic Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering Vol. A39, No. 8, pp. 2105-2111, 2004.

Štetni učinci subletalnih koncentracija metala (živa, olovo, kadmij, bakar, kositar, platina, nikal, rodij, paladij, vanadij) na ribe.

Cilj rada bio je utvrditi stupanj zagađenja kadmijem (Cd) srneće divljači, koja je zbog geografske rasprostranjenosti, rezidencijalnog načina života, načina prehrane (čisti biljožder) i relativno dugog životnog vijeka dobar indikator zagađenja određenog područaja. Koncentracija Cd utvrđena je u mišićnom (n = 36), jeternom (n = 36) i bubrežnom tkivu (n = 38) odrasle srneće divljači s područja nizinske Hrvatske (Podravina, Posavina, Pokuplje, istočna Slavonija) metodom AAS. Uzorci su prikupljani u razdoblju redovnog odstrela od 1990. do 2008. godine. Izračunata je medijana koncentracija Cd, a rezultati su izraženi u &micro ; g/g vlažne težine tkiva. Medijana koncentracija Cd u mišićnom tkivu srna bila je 0, 008 &micro ; g/g (raspon 0, 002– 0, 070) ; u jetrenom tkivu 0, 401 &micro ; g/g (raspon 0, 015– 2, 306) i u bubrežnom tkivu 3, 062 &micro ; g/g (raspon 0, 223– 27, 686). Najmanje zagađeno tkivo bilo je mišićno, slijedi jetreno, dok su u bubrezima utvrđene relativno visoke koncentracije Cd. Tri uzorka mišićnog tkiva (8, 3%) sadržavalo je Cd u koncentracijama iznad najviših dopuštenih količina (NDK) propisanih važećim zakonskim aktima (0.05 &micro ; g/g), u slučaju jetre taj broj je iznosio 12 (33, 3 %) NDK - 0.5 &micro ; g/g, dok je velika većina uzoraka bubrežnog tkiva, njih 34 (89, 5 %) prelazila NDK za bubreg koji iznosi 1.0 &micro ; g/g. S obzirom na navedene rezultate može se preporučiti da se unutarnji organi srneće divljači, naročito bubrezi ne koriste za ljudsku ishranu. Pretpostavljamo da je Cd u tkivima dijelom prirodnog, a dijelom antropogenog porijekla.

Tijekom dvije lovne sezone (2006. - 2008.) istražen je utjecaj različitih kalibara pušaka s užlijebljenim cijevima na oštećenje tkiva i gubitak mesne mase u odstrijeljenih divljih svinja. Na terenima LNP ''Črnovšćak'' praćen je učinak četiri različita kalibra (30 - 06 ; 7 x 64 ; 8 x 68 S i 9, 3 x 62) na jedinke oba spola, a odstrijeljene divlje svinje s obzirom na tjelesnu masu raspoređene su u pet težinskih kategorija (Kategorija 1: težine ≤ 25 kg ; Kategorija 2: težine od 25 do 50 kg ; Kategorija 3: težine od 50 do 75 kg ; Kategorija 4: težine od 75 do 100 kg i Kategorija 5: težine ≥ 100 kg). Utvrđen je najveći gubitak mesne mase (od 9 do 11 %) i najviši koeficijent oštećenja tkiva (od 0, 0885 do 0.0933) pri korištenju kalibra 9, 3 x 62 i zrna nešto veće gramaže (18, 5 g) kod svih težinskih kategorija odstrijeljenih divljih svinja. Najniži koeficijent oštećenja tkiva (od 0, 0869 do 0, 0913) i najmanji gubitak mesne mase (maksimalno do 5 %) utvrđen je pri korištenju kalibra 30 – 06 i zrna težine 11, 7 g. S obzirom na udaljenost ciljanja najmanja oštećenja tkiva zabilježili smo za kalibre 30 – 06 i 7 x 64 pri odstrjelu divljih svinja manjih težinskih kategorija (do 75 kg) na srednjim udaljenostima (od 50 do 100 m), dok se koeficijent oštećenja tkiva smanjivao s povećanjem udaljenosti i porastom težinske kategorije divljih svinja, što je posebice bilo izraženo u odraslih veprova (snažni mužjaci tjelesne mase preko 150 kg). Uspoređujući učinkovitost kalibra s obzirom na odstrjelnu daljinu i obim oštećenja tkiva kao najučinkovitiji kalibar za odstrjel većih težinskih kategorija divljih svinja (preko 75 kg) izdvojili smo kalibar 8 x 68 S i zrno težine 12, 1 g. Najveći istraživani kalibar (9, 3 x 62) iskazao je najveću učinkovitost pri odstrjelu divljih svinja velike biomase (veprovi preko 150 kg), no iskazao je i najveći koeficijent oštećenja tkiva te najveći postotni udio gubitka mesne mase koji se proporcionalno povećavao kod divljih svinja manjih težinskih kategorija odstrijeljenih na manjim udaljenostima, posebice u slučajevima kada su pogođene veće kosti (nadlaktica, lopatica).

Results presented are part of the first going on comprehensive investigation on the toxic heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd) contamination in game animals in Croatia. During regular hunting procedures samples (muscle, liver, kidney) of wild boar of 3 different age groups (piglets, < 1 year, n = 17 ; middle-aged animals, around 2 years, n =12 ; adults, >3 years, n =11) from the low land area of Croatia were collected. Concentrations of metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry and are expressed in &micro ; ; g/g wet weight. Statistical evaluation of results was made by calculating medians and mean values to enable further statistical procedure. In muscle tissue the lowest median concentration was measured for Cd (0.0019 &micro ; ; g/g), lead was present in slightly higher median concentration (0.002 &micro ; ; g/g) while median Hg concentration was the highest (0.009 &micro ; ; g/g). Statistically significant different Cd concentrations were determinated in piglets comparing to middle-aged and adults animals (p

Opisano je otrovanje sedam mačaka u dobi od 8 mjeseci do 3 godine koje je vlasnica tretirala preparatom ADVANTIX (spot on za pse od 10-25 kg)

For the last eighteen years (1990-2007), as part of a comprehensive monitoring of the eco-system, hares (n=5) were collected around natural gas processing plant – GTP Molve on eight occasions. Their organs (muscle, liver, kidney and brain) were analyzed for total mercury concentration by cold vapor AAS. The range of the median mercury concentration values (wet weight) in hares organs were 0.001-0.005, 0.010-0.045, 0.020, 0.130 and 0.001-0.015 µ ; g/g for muscle, liver, kidney and brain, respectively. Comparing our results with results published in available literature on mercury concentration in hares it can be concluded that area investigated in this research belongs to low contaminated region by mercury. Achieved results also point to the fact that closed mercury removal system installed in 1993 is effective in mercury removal from natural gas.

Levels of total mercury in the muscle (29 samples) and liver tissue (15 samples) of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) weighing 100-300 kg were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy. Tunas were previously captured in the waters of Malta, towed to the farm in the Adriatic Sea and fattened with defrosted herring and sardine for the period of 6 to 7 months. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the magnitude of mercury contamination and to ascertain whether the concentrations in muscle tissue exceeded the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision (1 μ g/g wet weight). Total mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of tunas ranged from 0.49 to 1.809 (median 0.899 μ g/g wet weight) while in the liver tissue it was from 0.324 to 3.248 (median 1.165 μ g/g wet weight). Total mercury concentrations in six samples of sardine ranged from 0.050 to 0.072 μ g/g wet weight while two samples of herring contained 0.020 and 0.053 μ g/g wet weight. Twelve out of 29 (41%) muscle samples of tuna contained mercury above the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision. It is generally believed that mercury levels in Mediterranean fish are higher than those of the other seas or oceans due to numerous deposits of mercury ores and metallic mercury in surrounding countries.

Samples of skeletal muscles, liver and kidneys of fallow deer from the Brijuni Islands were analysed for cadmium content. The lowest median cadmium concentrations were determined in the muscles (fawns - 0.010 mikrog/g, adults - 0.012 mikrog/g), higher concentrations were found in the liver (fawns - 0.052 mikrog/g, adults - 0.033 mikrog/g), while the kidneys contained the highest cadmium concentrations (fawns - 0.195 mikrog/g, adults - 0.796 mikrog/g). The concentrations determined were lower in comparison with relevant results of deer game from certain European countries, and are of natural origin. These results implicate that Brijuni Islands are under a minimal influence of anthropogenic factors that can give rise to cadmium contamination.

Levels of total mercury in the muscle (29 samples) and liver tissue (15 samples) of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) weighting 100 – 300 kilos were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy. Tunas were previously captured in the waters of Malta, towed to the farm in the Adriatic Sea and fattened defrosted herring and sardine for the period of 6 to 7 months. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the magnitude of mercury contamination and to ascertain whether the concentrations in muscle tissue exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission Decision (1 µg/g wet wt). Total mercury concentrations in muscle tissue of tunas ranged from 0.49 to 1.809 (median 0.899 µg/g wet wt) while in liver tissue it was from 0.324 to 3.248 (median 1.165 µg/g wet wt). Total mercury concentrations in 6 samples of sardine ranged from 0.050 to 0.072 µg/g wet wt, while two samples of herring contained 0.020 and 0.053 µg/g wet wt. Twelve out of 29 (41 %) muscle samples of tuna contain mercury above maximum level fixed by the European Commission Decision. It is generally believed that mercury levels in Mediterranean fish are higher than those of the other seas or oceans due to numerous deposits of mercury ores and metallic mercury in surrounding countries. We also have to keep in mind that tunas are highly mobile fish which swim for the whole life what enables them to enter or leave Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean.

Samples of skeletal muscles, liver and kidneys of fallow deer from the Brijuni Islands were analysed for cadmium content. The lowest median cadmium concentrations were determined in the muscles (fawns - 0.010 μ g/g, adults - 0.012 µ ; g/g), higher concentrations were found in the liver (fawns - 0.052 μ g/g, adults - 0.033 μ g/g), while the kidneys contained the highest cadmium concentrations (fawns - 0.195 µ ; g/g, adults - 0.796 µ ; g/g). The concentrations determined were lower in comparison with relevant results of deer game from certain European countries, and are of natural origin. These results implicate that Brijuni Islands are under a minimal influence of anthropogenic factors that can give rise to cadmium contamination.

Anual oscilation of ovarian morphology in European pilchards (Sardina pilchardus walbaum) caught in the period from july 2001 to june 2002 in the region of the Northern Adriatic (Croatia) was studied. Fifty females were taken in the middle of each month and determining body mass they were dissected, ovaries extracted and weighed, and the centre of each ovary was sampled for histologic analysis.Samples were fixed in the Bouin's solution, mounted in paraffine and cut into 6 µ ; m thick slices wich were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and by the Periodic-acid Shiff method (PAS). During oogenesis the oocytes passed through four developmental phases: peri-nucleolus stage (phase I), yolk vesicle stage (phase II), yolk stage (phase III) and mature stage (phase IV). Oocytes in the phase I were present during all months, forming more than 40% of all oocytes. Their percentage increased from May to August (P

Šljuka bena (Scolopax rusticola L.) je tradicionalna divljač na području Republike Hrvatske. Tijekom proljetnih i jesenskih seoba šljuke se zadržavaju kraće vrijeme i u našim lovištima. Pri tome traže vlažna tla mlađih šuma graba i hrasta, zbog svog karakterističnog načina ishrane. Zanimljiv i nadasve cijenjen lov na šljuke provodi se kroz dvije osnovne metode, doček na zemlji i buširanje. Novi propisi danas značajno mijenjaju tradicionalni postupak sa ovom divljači po odstrjelu, odnosno nalažu izravnu otpremu lovine u objekte za obradu, pregled i hlađenje. Ovime se značajno utječe na pripremu tradicionalnih specijaliteta od ove divljači, od kojih su svakako najcjenjenija crijeva. Osim ovako, šljuke se uz prethodnu pripremu spravljaju i na razne druge načine.

U radu je osim pregleda koncentracija toksičnih metala izmjerenih u školjkašima Malostonskog zaljeva u različitim razdobljima uzorkovanja, dan i njihov pregled u drugim geografskim područjima.Iako na ovom prostoru koncentracije istraženih toksikanata ne premašuju zakonom propisane, upozoreno je na nužnost potanjeg poznavanja prostorne i vremenske raspodjele pojedinih metala i stalnog praćenja njihove zastupljenosti u tkivu školjkaša.

This study, as part of a comprehensive monitoring of the eco-system, was aimed at establishing a relationship between mercury concentration in ambient air and tissues of wild animals in the vicinity of the natural gas processing plant - GTP Molve, Croatia. The study indicates the presence of low ambient air mercury concentrations, being far below the maximum allowable values. During the last measurement period 1999-2001., mercury was detected at levels (4-9 ng/m3) well below worker exposure standards (50 μ g/m3) and a typical ambient air quality toxic standard (10 ng/m3- suggested value for ambient air in Croatia). The range of the median mercury concentration values in hares organs obtained on for occasions in the period 1990-2001 were 0.001-0.0025, 0.001-0.003, 0.007-0.027 and 0.041-0.062 μ g/g in muscle, brain, liver and kidney tissue, respectively. The results of mercury measurements in ambient air and in hare’ s tissues during last decade demonstrate small but constant decline in concentration values. Nevertheless, further eco-monitoring and mercury measurements are important and needed.

Histochemical localization of nonspecific esterase, alkaline and acid phosphatase in digestive tract of free-living Hake (Merluccius merluccius L. 1758) and their contribution to digestive process were researched. Material originated from Adriatic Sea (vicinity of Island Rab). The histochemical techniques were used for detecting of enzymatic activity. Various enzymatic activities had been noticed, in correlation with particular parts of fish digestive tract. Strong esterases activity had been noticed in intestinal epithelial cells. Alkaline phosphatase has a wide distribution and localization in intestine segments, generally in lamina propria, but mostly in brush border of enterocytes. Activity of acid phosphatase has been associated with intestinal epithelial cells, and it is only enzyme detected in gastric glands. Obtained data will have influence on understanding the digestive processes of investigated fish.

Cilj ovoga rada bio je prikazati otrovanja divljači i lovačkih pasa antikoagulansima. Za razliku od negdašnjeg ciljanog trovanja pojedinih vrsta divljači, danas su otrovanja uglavnom posljedica nestručne primjene rodenticida u sklopu programa kontrole glodavaca u lovištu ili sekundarnog otrovanja, a ipak znatno rjeđe kao posljedica namjernog trovanja pojedinih vrsta divljači ili čak i lovačkih pasa. U cilju sprečavanja otrovanja divljači i lovačkih pasa neophodno je pridržavanje odredbi Zakona o lovu, pravilno izlagati mamce glodavcima uz istodobno prikupljanje bolesnih i uginulih životinja.

Over the last three decades, a multitude of studies have been carried out on the levels of mercury found in cetaceans. Due to its lengthy persistence and high mobility in the marine ecosystem, mercury shows a high level of biomagnification in the upper levels of the food web and the dolphins are typical end-points in the bioaccumulation of persistent pollutants in the pelagic food chain. Beached dolphins found along the coast are an important source of information on marine mammals ; in recent years, they have been found along several coasts. Altogether 17 stranded or by-caught dolphins were collected between 1990 and 1999 aged between

Poisoning with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in dogs is described. Diagnosis is connfirmed by presence of carbofuran, chlorpyrifos and their metabolites in livers of poisoned dogs.

Technological process of exploration, production, transport, processing and refining of the natural gas in the gas-condensate fields of Podravina, northwestern Croatia, has been conceived with the tendency to hinder in full environment pollution. In addition to this, by ecological monitoring the possible impact of the oil mining on the environment is being controlled. During the last twenty years, according to the Program on determination of the environment condition that has been implemented in cooperation with great number of researchers of different skills, the risks of the oil industry on human health and environment have been determined and by improvement of technological processes decreased. A great number of the scientific institutions and individuals take part in the preparation and implementation of ecological researches and analyses, processing and interpretation of results. This paper comprises the part of these activities and ecological researches with a special emphasis on the air quality control. The results of the mean annual concentrations of the hydrogen sulphide and mercaptan in 1991, 1996 and 2002 were shown with the commentary about the decrease of the concentrations during 1996 and 2002 as compared to 1991 ; a part of results of research of mercury in the air from 1995 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2000 has also been shown.

In order to assess the effects of starvation on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL)count and histological changes of the carp gut mucosa, on group of fish (n = 10) were fed commercially prepared standard diets and another group of fish (n = 10) were starved for 4 weeks. Carp starved for 4 weeks developed enteropathy, comprising folds atrophy, stratum compactum hyperplasia, significant periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive (P < 0.00001), but not Alcian blue (ALB)-positive, goblet cell (GC) hyperplasia and a significant decrease (P < 0.00001) in i-IEL numbers. These changes were associated with a dense cellular infiltrate into the lamina propria. Taken together, these data suggest that the pathobiology of starvation-induced i-IELs decrease, matching PAS-positive GC proliferation anmd inflammatory cells homing to the gut, could be classified as a non-infectious enteropathy induced by starvation

The δ−aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity was examined in two groups of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to sublethal lead concentrations (1.3 and 2.6 ppm) for 60 days. There was no statistically significant change in ALA-D activity at one-month lead exposure. After two months, ALA-D activity was decreased in both experimental groups of fish compared with the control group. The decrease in ALA-D activity reached statistical significance (P

The present study, as part of a comprehensive monitoring of the eco-system, was aimed at establishing a relationship between mercury concentration in ambient air and tissues of wild animals in the vicinity of the natural gas processing plant - GTP Molve, Croatia. The study presents a part of results of mercury concentration measurements in hares present in the wider area around GTP Molve. The results indicate that concentrations are within normal levels. Mean mercury concentration values found in hares’ muscle, liver, kidney and brain tissues recorded in 1999 were lower than those recorded during 1995 and 1990. Mercury concentration measurements in ambient air and in hare’ s tissues demonstrate small but constant decline in concentration values. Achieved results point to the need of further research in order to investigate correlations between particular values so as to be able to make adequate conclusions.

After haematological, biochemical and x-ray examination, followed by surgical intervention, lead intoxication was established in an 11 year old dog.

Opisano je slučajno otrovanje ovaca lindanom koje je rezultiralo uginućem.

Inadvertent lindane poisoning in sheep is described.