Comparative analysis of the lead content of roe deer antlers from different regions in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) during the period 1990-1999

We analyzed the lead content of 172 antlers of roe bucks (Capreolus capreolus), taken between 1990 and 1999 in 13 areas of North Rhine-Westphalia. Individual lead concentrations ranged between 0.3 and 14.0 mg/kg dry weight, and sample means differed significantly (p < 0.001) among the 13 groups (Table 2, Fig. 3). Elevated lead concentrations were found in samples originating from the vicinity of potential lead emission sources (zink smelter, mineral coal-fired Fewer stations, plants of the cement and galvanic industries). The results indicate that also after the marked reduction of lead emissions from road traffic (due to the introduction of unleaded and the prohibition of leaded gasoline), a considerable variation in lead contamination of rot deer habitats in North Rhine-Westphalia continued to exist in the 1990s.