Studies on Cd, Pb, Hg and Cr Values in Dog Hairs from Urban Korea

Dogs are a very good indicator of the pollution load on the environment. They share people's environment and are exposed to the action of the same pollutants. This study was to estimate the heavy metal contents in dog hairs in domestic districts, and to assess effects of age, sex, feed habits, living area, breeding environment and smoking habit of owner. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in 204 samples were 0.09${\pm}$0.10 ${\mu}g$/g, 0.21${\pm}$0.09 ${\mu}g$/g, 0.82${\pm}$0.09 ${\mu}g$/g and 0.48${\pm}$0.07 ${\mu}g$/g (Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr)) in dog hairs, respectively. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr in dog hairs in Yeongnam including Ulsan and Seoul, were higher than in Chungchong and Honam, and concentrations of Pb were significantly different (p<0.01). Concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr in dog hairs increased with age (p<0.05). Only dogs fed commercial pet foods had significantly higher Cd and Cr concentrations in hairs than dogs fed dog feed and human diet (p<0.01 in Cd and p<0.05 in Cr). Cr concentrations of dog hairsfrom dogs kept on cement floors were the highest of the other environments (p<0.01). Heavy metal concentrations of dogs owned by smokers, were higher than dogs of non-smokers, but there were no significant differences.