Lab Anim Res.  2012 Sep;28(3):151-154. 10.5625/lar.2012.28.3.151.

Heavy metal concentrations in hair of newly imported China-origin rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

• Lee JI
• Jung WY
• Lee G
• Kim MS
• Kim YS
• Park CG
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 1436719
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2012.28.3.151

Abstract

Macaque monkeys are good sentinel to humans for environmental pollutions because their similarities in genetic and physiological characteristics. So, their reference values about exposures to heavy metals are required for proper data interpretation. Here, we report several heavy metals concentrations in the hair of rhesus monkeys which are widely used in biomedical research. The hair of 28 imported rhesus monkeys from an animal farm in southwest China were examined for the presence of eight heavy metals (Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, Lead, Mercury, and Selenium). The analyzed data in parts per million (ppm) for hair concentrations of heavy metals in rhesus monkeys were as follow: As (0.654+/-0.331), Be (0.005+/-0.003), Cd (0.034+/-0.022), Cr (11.329+/-4.259), Fe (87.106+/-30.114), Pb (0.656+/-0.613), Hg (0.916+/-0.619), and Se (3.200+/-0.735). The concentrations of Be, Cr, and As showed significant higher in females than in males (P<0.05). We present here the reference values of several heavy metals in healthy China-origin rhesus monkeys. These data may provide valuable information for veterinarians and investigators using rhesus monkeys in experimental studies.

Keyword

Biomedical research; China-origin rhesus monkeys; heavy metals; hair

MeSH Terms

Animals
Beryllium
Cadmium
China
Chromium
Female
Hair
Haplorhini
Humans
Iron
Macaca
Macaca mulatta
Male
Metals, Heavy
Nitriles
Pyrethrins
Reference Values
Research Personnel
Veterinarians
Beryllium
Cadmium
Chromium
Iron
Metals, Heavy
Nitriles
Pyrethrins

Reference

1. Barbosa F Jr, Tanus-Santos JE, Gerlach RF, Parsons PJ. A critical review of biomarkers used for monitoring human exposure to lead: advantages, limitations, and future needs. Environ Health Perspect. 2005. 113(12):1669–1674.

2. Berny PJ, Côté LM, Buck WB. Relationship between soil lead, dust lead, and blood lead concentrations in pets and their owners: evaluation of soil lead threshold values. Environ Res. 1994. 67(1):84–97.

3. de Burbure C, Buchet JP, Leroyer A, Nisse C, Haguenoer JM, Mutti A, Smerhovsky Z, Cikrt M, Trzcinka-Ochocka M, Razniewska G, Jakubowski M, Bernard A. Renal and neurologic effects of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in children: evidence of early effects and multiple interactions at environmental exposure levels. Environ Health Perspect. 2006. 114(4):584–590.

4. Laughlin NK, Bowman RE, Franks PA, Dierschke DJ. Altered menstrual cycles in rhesus monkeys induced by lead. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1987. 9(4):722–729.

5. Levin ED, Schneider ML, Ferguson SA, Schantz SL, Bowman RE. Behavioral effects of developmental lead exposure in rhesus monkeys. Dev Psychobiol. 1988. 21(4):371–382.

6. Reuhl KR, Rice DC, Gilbert SG, Mallett J. Effects of chronic developmental lead exposure on monkey neuroanatomy: visual system. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1989. 99(3):501–509.

7. Rice DC. Behavioral effects of lead in monkeys tested during infancy and adulthood. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1992. 14(4):235–245.

8. Jiang JK, Hao JM, Wu Y, Streets DG, Duan L, Tian HZ. [Development of mercury emission inventory from coal combustion in China]. Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2005. 26(2):34–39.

9. Wang D, He L, Wei S, Feng X. Estimation of mercury emission from different sources to atmosphere in Chongqing, China. Sci Total Environ. 2006. 366(2-3):722–728.

10. Engel G, O'Hara TM, Cardona-Marek T, Heidrich J, Chalise MK, Kyes R, Jones-Engel L. Synanthropic primates in Asia: potential sentinels for environmental toxins. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2010. 142(3):453–460.

11. Ninomiya R, Koizumi N, Murata K. Concentrations of cadmium, zinc, copper, iron, and metallothionein in liver and kidney of nonhuman primates. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2002. 87(1-3):95–111.

12. Schillaci MA, Lee BP, Castellini JM, Reid MJ, O'Hara TM. Lead levels in long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) hair from Singapore. Primates. 2011. 52(2):163–170.

13. Rashed MN, Soltan ME. A Animal hair as biological indicator for heavy metal pollution in urban and rural areas. Environ Monit Assess. 2005. 110(1-3):41–53.

14. Feng XB, Shang LH, Wang SF, Tang SL, Zheng W. Temporal variation of total gaseous mercury in the air of Guiyang, China. J Geophys Res-Atmos. 2004. 109.

15. Gustin MS, Lindberg SE, Austin K, Coolbaugh M, Vette A, Zhang H. Assessing the contribution of natural sources to regional atmospheric mercury budgets. Sci Total Environ. 2000. 259(1-3):61–71.

16. Lindqvist O, Johansson K, Aastrup M, Andersson A, Bringmark L, Hovsenius G, Hakanson L, Iverfeldt A, Meili M, Timm B. Mercury in the Swedish Environment - Recent Research on Causes, Consequences and Corrective Methods. Water Air Soil Poll. 1991. 55:1–2.

17. Pacyna JM, Pacyna EG, Steenhuisen F, Wilson S. Mapping 1995 global anthropogenic emissions of mercury. Atmos Environ. 2003. 37:109–117.

18. Yasutake A, Hachiya N. Accumulation of inorganic mercury in hair of rats exposed to methylmercury or mercuric chloride. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2006. 210(4):301–306.

19. Pacyna EG, Pacyna JM. Global emission of mercury from anthropogenic sources in 1995. Water Air Soil Poll. 2002. 137:149–165.

20. Tang S, Feng X, Qiu J, Yin G, Yang Z. Mercury speciation and emissions from coal combustion in Guiyang, Southwest China. Environ Res. 2007. 105(2):175–182.

21. Ratcliffe HE, Swanson GM, Fischer LJ. Human exposure to mercury: a critical assessment of the evidence of adverse health effects. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1996. 49(3):221–270.

22. Goyer RA. Lead toxicity: from overt to subclinical to subtle health effects. Environ Health Perspect. 1990. 86:177–181.