The state of bioelements in the hair of free-ranging European bisons from Białowieża Primeval Forest

Human or animal hair is considered to be a good indicator of the content of bioelements or toxic elements in human and animal organism. Its analysis is a good alternative for the arduous obtaining blood or biopsy samples. The aim of the performed research was the assessment of some chosen bioelements in the organism of European bison on the basis of their analysis in hair. The investigation material comprised hair samples obtained from 22 animals. All animals were divided into groups according to gender (males, females) and age (calves up to one year of age and animals older than 2 years). Samples were mineralized in nitric acid, under pressure in the microwave apparatus. The content of phosphorus, sulphur, magnesium, iron, titanium and vanadium were determined in hair samples. The content of these elements was determined using the ICP-AES method in accredited laboratory. The accuracy of determinations was tested using the standard reference material. The mean content of phosphorus in hair amounted to 245.14 mg · kg–1, SD 65.00, magnesium 97.32 mg · kg–1, SD 33.16, iron 119.48 mg · kg–1, SD 83.31 and titanium 2.368 mg · kg–1, SD 2.097. In case of these elements, differences depending on gender and age were statistically insignificant. Mean content of sulphur in the European bison hair amounted to 3.41% with equalized content in the herd (SD 0.22%). Here also statistically insignificant differences depending on gender were observed. However, a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0,05) was demonstrated which depended on animal age. Mature European bisons had more sulphur in hair as compared to calves. The concentration of vanadium (0.362 mg · kg–1, SD 0.396 on the average) significantly differed in hair depending on the European bison age with much higher values in adult animals (calves 0.260 mg · kg–1, animals older than 2 years 0.686 mg · kg–1). Similar data were obtained while investigating hair of sea mammals