Blood lead content in a peri-urban population of the South American toad Bufo arenarum

Blood Pb concentration in a South American toad Bufo arenarum population Žn 152. was determined over 10 samplings carried out between December 1996 and November 1999. The studied population lived in the surroundings of the La Plata City, the largest industrial-urban setting of the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The presence of the metal was detected in all the samples tested, the mean concentration range being 1.99 4.66 mg dl 1. Some preliminary environmental data on soil content of Pb in the sampling area suggest the anthropogenic origin of the metal possibly due to high rate of Pb-containing gasoline utilisation until recently. The reported results may reflect a sequel of a sustained local air soil water pollution process.