Tissue concentrations of heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls in raccoons in Central New York

Heavy metal and PCB concentrations were determined in 16 raccoons, a coyote, and a red fox trapped in central New York. Raccoons trapped within the Ithaca city limits contained several-fold higher concentrations of PCBs in their body fat and lead in kidney and liver compared with those trapped in rural areas. Mercury in liver and selenium in kidney and liver was higher in most instances in the raccoons than in the fox or coyote, probably reflecting their diet of fish in which these elements tend to accummulate. Excluding the raccoons trapped near Ithaca, Pb in kidney and Hg in kidney and liver was generally higher in male adult than male immature animals.