Content of metals in rabbit tissues

The purpose of the experiments was the determination of lead, cadmium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese and magnesium in some internal organs and muscles of rabbits. The investigations were performed in 1990 with 360 white New Zealand and black-white rabbits which were slaughtered when they had 2.0 kg in weight. The experimental material (180 animals) came from a rabbit farm kept by Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding in the Agricultural Academy of Cracow. The control group constituted 180 rabbits from an area without the industry. With regard to the average lead content in 22% of kidneys and liver of experimental rabbit group an exceeding of the allowable limit and in average cadmium content in 18% of kidneys and liver was stated. The cadmium contents of values for the kidneys, liver, heart and muscles are several times higher compared with the highest values which were determined for the organs and muscles from the control area.