Content of Lead and Cadmium in the Tissues and Organs of the Wild Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos L.) Depending on the Region of Poland Where It Is Harvested

SIMPLE SUMMARY: A qualitative analysis of the tissues and organs of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos L.) allows us to estimate the possible hygienic and toxicological threats related to the concentration of lead and cadmium in the environment. A common property of heavy metals is that even in low concentrations they can be toxic to living organisms, including humans. Research related to monitoring the presence of pollutants in the environment of free-living animals should be conducted in order to assess the degree of environmental contamination and issue opinions in this regard. ABSTRACT: A property common to heavy metals is that even in small concentrations they can exert toxic effects on living organisms, including humans. The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of the tissues and organs of wild mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos L.) by estimating the potential hygiene and toxicological hazard associated with the concentrations of lead and cadmium in these tissues and organs, as well as the influence of the birds’ sex and place of origin on these parameters. A significantly higher average lead content was noted in the breast muscles and the livers of the mallards harvested in the Leszno hunting district compared to the birds from the Siedlce hunting district. A higher average cadmium concentration was recorded in the breast and leg muscles of the mallards harvested in the Leszno hunting district than the Siedlce hunting district. The concentration of cadmium in the tissues and organs of the mallards harvested in the Siedlce or the Leszno hunting district did not exceed the acceptable limits for the muscles and livers of slaughtered animals. This study found no significant effect of the sex of the wild crossbreeds on the content of lead and cadmium in tissues and organs. This study showed that the mallard has a measurable response to environmental pollution with lead and cadmium, and therefore it is a species that could to some extent be used as a bioindicator of the level of contamination of the environment with these xenobiotics. The ban on the use of lead pellets as ammunition in Poland may largely limit the degree of lead contamination of the tissues and organs of mallards.