Journal article

Publication year: 2003

Pages: 1677-1681

Journal: Chemosphere

Volume number: 52

Issue number: 10

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00443-0

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Temporal changes of environmental fluoride concentration in the
industrialized area of Siegen, western Germany were assessed by studying
the fluoride content of antlers (n=116) collected between 1948 and 2000 from the resident roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
population. During the analyzed period, major fluoride emission sources
in the study area have been iron- and steelworks. Fluoride
concentrations in the antlers ranged between 118 and 5428 mg/kg of bone
ash. There was an overall increase in antler fluoride content from the
late 1940s/early 1950s to the late 1950s/mid-1960s. Thereafter, antler
fluoride levels overall steadily declined. For statistical analysis, the
data were grouped into five periods (1948–1959, 1960–1969, 1970–1979,
1980–1989, and 1990–2000). Geometric mean fluoride concentrations of the
samples ranged from 323 (period 1990–2000) to 2096 mg/kg of bone ash
(period 1960–1969). Sample means for the periods 1980–1989 and
1990–2000, respectively, were always significantly lower than those of
older samples. The decrease in antler fluoride concentrations during
recent decades suggests a drop of ambient fluoride levels, that is
hypothetically attributed to a reduction in the number of emission
sources in the area and a decline of fluoride discharges from both local
and more distant sources due to improved emission control measures.
Comparison with antler fluoride data for other roe deer populations from
western Germany further suggests that the roe deer from the Siegen area
were recently exposed to an only moderate additional fluoride load from
industrial sources. Studying antler fluoride concentrations is a
convenient and cost-effective method of monitoring temporal changes in
ambient fluoride levels.

Harvard Citation style: Kierdorf, U. and Kierdorf, H. (2003) Temporal variation of fluoride concentration in antlers of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) living in an area exposed to emissions from iron and steel industry, 1948–2000, Chemosphere, 52(10), pp. 1677-1681. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00443-0

APA Citation style: Kierdorf, U., & Kierdorf, H. (2003). Temporal variation of fluoride concentration in antlers of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) living in an area exposed to emissions from iron and steel industry, 1948–2000. Chemosphere. 52(10), 1677-1681. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00443-0