Bioaccumulation of Trace and Non-trace Elements in Blood and Fibers of Alpacas ( Vicugna pacos ) that Graze in Italian Pastures

Abstract

The concentrations of trace and non-trace elements were determined in blood and fibers of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) from a north Italian area, as well as in their pasture forages. This is the first investigation regarding this species in Italy, and the first considering alpaca's fiber as bioindicator worldwide. Metal contents in blood were in the decreasing order: copper > zinc > aluminum > selenium > lead > nickel > manganese > chromium > arsenic and cadmium, while in fiber, metal levels were in the following order: aluminum > zinc > copper > manganese > chromium > nickel > selenium > lead > arsenic and cadmium. Antimony, beryllium, mercury, tin, and thallium were below the limit of quantification (0.010 mg kg⁻¹). The analysis of the alpacas' forage confirmed the same trend found in fiber, suggesting that metal bioaccumulation was affected by diet. These preliminary results have shown that all the trace elements studied bioaccumulated to a greater extent in the fibers of the alpaca than in the blood. Accordingly, we may suggest that alpaca fibers could be used for monitoring exposure especially to non-essential metals like aluminum, cadmium, and lead, and could constitute a suitable non-invasive method for measuring trace and non-trace element exposure in camelids.

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