Enclosed but safe? Monitoring of heavy metals in zoos

Present work reports about the monitoring of heavy metals in different species housed in zoos. Starting from 2009 a collaboration with Falconara and Pistoia zoos started to monitor the level of heavy metals in animals that died because of natural causes or pathologies. Tissue samples were collected during necropsies, when all information concerning health status of the animal were also registered. Samples were analysed with ICP-OES technique and data were correlated to health status, age and any other information available on the animal. Obtained data underline a reduced exposure to heavy metal, that is not strange given the position of the zoo far from main street or any other potential source of pollution. Some particular cases are also revised. The project can be considered as a starting point for the definition of background values for heavy metals in different wildlife species, which can help in identifying possible risky exposure in free wildlife.