Differences in radionuclide and heavy metal concentrations found in the kidneys of barren-ground caribou from the western Northwest Territories 1994/95 to 2000/01

Authors

  • Nicholas C. Larter Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 240, Fort Simpson, NT X0E 0N0, Canada
  • John A. Nagy Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bag Service #1, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0, Canada
  • Brett T. Elkin Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 600, 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT X1A 3S8, Canada
  • Colin R. Macdonald Northern Environmental Consulting, Pinawa, MB R0E 1L0, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/2.30.1.782

Keywords:

Bluenose-west caribou population, cadmium, mercury, Rangifer tarandus

Abstract

Aluminum, nickel, cadmium, mercury, and lead concentrations were measured in the kidney tissue of known aged barren-ground caribou wintering in the western Northwest Territories harvested during winter 1994/1995 and during winters 2000/2001 and 2001/2002. 40K, 137Cs, and 210Pb concentrations were measured in the kidney tissue of known aged barren-ground caribou during winter 2000/2001 and compared to concentrations in winter 1993/1994 reported in Macdonald et al. (1996). Renal concentrations of aluminum were higher (P<0.001)in winter 2000/2001 than winter 1994/1995. Contrastingly renal concentrations of mercury were lower (P<0.001) in winter 2000/2001 than 1994/1995. 137Cs (P<0.02), 40K (P=0.01), 210Pb (P<0.01) had lower renal concentrations in winter 2000/2001 than 1993/1994. Renal concentrations of cadmium (P<0.001) and 137Cs (P<0.04) had a positive relationship with caribou age. We also document renal concentrations of arsenic, copper, selenium, zinc, 232Th, 226Ra, and 235U in the kidneys of caribou harvested in winters 2000/2001 and 2001/2002. Renal zinc concentrations were positively correlated with the age of caribou.

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Published

2010-03-01

How to Cite

Larter, N. C., Nagy, J. A., Elkin, B. T., & Macdonald, C. R. (2010). Differences in radionuclide and heavy metal concentrations found in the kidneys of barren-ground caribou from the western Northwest Territories 1994/95 to 2000/01. Rangifer, 30(1), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.7557/2.30.1.782

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1 (2010)

Section

Articles

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