Lead and cadmium in soil and Isopoda woodlice in Croatia

The aim of the study was to determine lead and cadmium concentrations in Isopoda woodlice and soil and to estimate their relation in the environment and the possibility of the use of isopods as biological indicators of pollution. Samples of isopods and soil were collected at two locations in Northern Croatia and analyzed for lead and cadmium. One location was in the forest, and another in the meadow near the road. Isopods were dry- ashed and soil was extracted with nitric acid. Elements were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results revealed that the two locations were significantly different in lead and cadmium in extracted soil and isopods. Lead concentration in extracted soil was 34.6 mg/kg dry weight in the forest and 43.3 mg/kg dry weight in the meadow near the road. Respective cadmium values were 0.147 and 0.180 mg/kg. Lead concentrations in isopods were 2.40 and 4.22 mg/kg dry weights, and cadmium 0.757 and 0.411 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Correlation of lead or cadmium between isopods and soil irrespective of location gave significant and linear relations for both elements.