Geographical and seasonal variabilities in pelage metal levels of the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) were studied in wild populations subject to different degrees of contaminant fallout from the copper–nickel smelters at Sudbury, Ontario. Levels of copper and iron in recently emerged pelage (10–12 and 13–20 μg∙g−1, respectively) did not differ among animals from highly contaminated, moderately contaminated, and noncontaminated sites, thus indicating minimal metal loading via endogenous routes. Nickel levels were significantly elevated for animals at the two contaminated sites relative to the control group; however, such increases are believed to reflect external contamination from environmental sources and (or) cross-contamination between old and new pelage coats. Pelage in the premoult condition, having been subjected to exogenous influences during the pelage year, showed higher levels of all three metals at one or both of the contaminated sites but not at the control site. Relative increases of nickel, copper, and iron coincided with atmospheric loading ratios reported for the Sudbury smelters, thus confirming the latter as the source. Nickel gains conformed to a previously reported model in that pelage burdens varied as a simultaneous function of duration of exposure to the environment and reciprocal of distance from the pollution source. Element-specific variabilities are discussed in relation to the use of pelage and choice of elements in monitoring smelter emission fallout.
Electrodialysis Recovery of Nickel, Copper and Water from Rinse Water of Copper/Nickel Sulfamate Multilayer Plating.
