Accumulation of Macro- and Trace Elements in the "Mother-Placenta-Fetus" System in Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in the Area of a Large Copper Smelter

The accumulation of 28 elements (Na, Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, Au, Th, U) in a maternal organism (the liver), the placenta and fetuses of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) from the vicinity of a large copper smelter and from the background territories (Russia, the Middle Urals) has been analyzed. It was shown that the level of trace element contamination (TEC) of the environment had no significant effect on the levels of elements in different types of samples. The exception was Br: its concentrations in the liver, placenta and fetuses from contaminated territories exceeded twofold the respective background values. At the same time, the type of accumulation of most elements depended on the sample type: the maximum concentrations of Cr, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sb, La, Ce accumulated in the liver of maternal individuals; Co, Ag, Eu, Tb, Th accumulated in the placenta; Na, Ca, Br, Ba, Ta accumulated in fetuses, and the levels of As, Cs, Nd, Lu, U did not vary between the samples compared. It was concluded that the TEC components under consideration in effective concentrations had no significant negative impact on the bank vole offspring quality in the area of the copper smelter.