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Heavy Metals in Cottontail Rabbits on Mined Lands Treated with Sewage Sludge¹

ABSTRACT

Levels of heavy metals in soils, vegetation, and tissues of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on a Pennsylvania strip-mined site treated with sewage sludge were compared with those from a non-treated mine site to determine increases due to treatment effect. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn were higher in vegetation on the sludge-treated site. Zinc was higher (P < 0.05) in femurs of cottontails from the treated site, but levels of most metals in the tissues of cottontail rabbits from the treated site were comparable to those from a non-treated mine site and a nonmined area. Baseline values for the uptake of Cd were documented with captive cottontail rabbits fed diets supplemented with 0, 5, or 25 mg Cd kg^–1. Captive rabbits fed diets supplemented with a Cd salt accumulated increasing levels of Cd in their tissues, except for muscle, as the dietary intake of Cd increased (P < 0.05). Liver and muscle tissue of rabbits collected on treated mine sites contained higher Cd levels than laboratory controls, but overall, cottontail rabbits did not accumulate metals on the sludge-treated site at hazardous levels.

Key Words: Sylvilagus • cadmium • wildlife toxicology

¹ Contribution of the School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA 16802. Authorized as J. Series no. 7166 of the Pennsylvania Agric. Exp. Stn. Paper no. 267 of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

² Assistant Professor, DuBois Campus; Associate Leader Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Assistant Professor, School of Forest Resources; Professor, School of Forest Resources, respectively, The Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA.

Received for publication May 21, 1985.