Abstract: Heavy metals pollution is a major ecological concern because of the potential of their accumulation in food chain. In this study, cattle tissues were sampled from different polluted areas of Guizhou Province to analyze their copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations, and approach the correlations between the test heavy metals concentrations and rearing environment. The results showed that the Cu and Zn concentrations in cattle tissues were within the China National Food Safety Standard, but the Pb concentration in cattle kidney and liver was slightly over the allowable limit. The Cd concentration in cattle kidney and liver from polluted areas was 38-times and 5-times higher than the Standard, respectively, while that in cattle muscle was within the Standard limit. The heavy metals concentration in cattle tissues had a close correlation with that in soil, feed, and drinking water, and especially in cattle kidney, the correlation coefficient was >0.78. The migration coefficient of heavy metals from feed to cattle tissues decreased gradually with increasing concentration of heavy metals in feed, being the highest for Cd and the lowest for Pb. The ratios of essential elements to toxic metals in cattle tissues were decreased with increasing pollution level. Cu/Cd and Zn/Cd ratios were significantly lower in kidney than in other tissues. Cd was mainly accumulated in kidney, Cu in liver, Zn in muscle and liver, and Pb in kidney and liver. It was suggested that Cd pollution was the major concern in rearing environment, and kidney was the major tissue of heavy metals accumulation.

Key words: Macrosiphoniella sanborni, Temperature, Development