Bioaccumulation of metals and effects of landfill pollution in small mammals. Part I. The greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula Original Research Article

Here we quantified the bioaccumulation of metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and chromium) and assessed several morphological (RI, relative weights) and genotoxic parameters as biomarkers of pollution from the landfill of Garraf (Barcelona, NE Spain). Specimens of Crocidura russula (Insectivora, Mammalia) from the landfill site showed increased Pb, Cd, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Cr concentrations in their tissues. Levels of mercury were below detection limits. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cr varied significantly with age and no differences were found between males and females. While no differences were found in morphological parameters between shrews from the two sites, those from the polluted one showed more micronuclei in blood than those from reference site (1.786 ± 0.272 vs. 0.088 ± 0.045‰; U = 46.000, p < 0.001). The considerable amounts of potentially toxic metals (Pb till 59.71 and Cd till 56.57 μg g−1 DW in kidneys) and the genotoxic effects indicate the harmful effect on biota. We consider necessary biomonitoring this landfill sited in a partially protected area.