Cadmium in Selected Organs of Game Animals from Areas with Different Degrees of Industrialisation and Its Intake by Human Consumers

Simple Summary A primary cause of heavy metal pollution in the environment is human economic activity associated with increased industrialisation and urbanisation, agricultural development, transport, and energy production. The present study determines the degree of contamination by cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal, based on its concentrations in the organs of animals living in regions of Poland. Our findings indicate that Cd is present in the highest concentrations in the southern regions of Poland, where the mining, energy, metallurgical, and steel industries are located. Surprisingly, high Cd concentrations were also found in the northeastern region, which is generally considered to be unpolluted.Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of cadmium (Cd) in the organs of game animals from areas with different degrees of industrialisation and to assess its intake following the consumption of the livers of these animals. The material for this study consisted of liver and kidney samples taken from roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) from five regions differing in land use and industrialisation. Compared to the kidneys, the liver was an indicator of the current state of the environment and Cd intake, while the kidney was used to assess the long-term accumulation of Cd in the body. The cadmium concentration in the samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The cadmium concentrations of the organs were found to vary according to geographical location, with the highest levels being observed in Southern Poland, i.e., areas characterised by the highest degree of industrialisation and the presence of heavy industry. However, high Cd concentrations were also reported in the northeastern region. Examples of excessive cadmium levels in the kidneys were noted in all tested regions. Cd intake by humans was evaluated by calculating the estimated daily cadmium intake, and this was compared with the tolerable weekly intake (TWI). The TWI was only exceeded by children frequently consuming wild boar liver from the southwest region.