Agriculture, Vol. 32 No. 1, 2026.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.18047/poljo.32.1.12
Regional Variation in Selected Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in Sheep Wool in Croatia
Valentino Držaić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Džaja
; M SAN Eko d.o.o., Buzinski prilaz 10, 10010 Buzin, Croatia
Ivan Širić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ante Kasap
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zvonko Antunović
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Boro Mioč
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of selected trace elements (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni) in sheep wool from three regions of Croatia: Posavina (around Županja), Bilogora (around Grubišno Polje), and the island of Pag. Among the elements investigated, the highest concentrations were observed for iron (Fe 193.09 mg/kg), followed by zinc (Zn 64.03 mg/kg), manganese (Mn 7.06 mg/kg), and copper (Cu 2.59 mg/kg). Very low concentrations (below 1 mg/kg) were observed for nickel (Ni 0.24 mg/kg), chromium (Cr 0.28 mg/kg), lead (Pb 0.02 mg/kg), and cadmium (Cd 0.004 mg/kg). Significant regional differences (P<0.001) were observed for almost all elements, except for Cu. Sheep wool from the Posavina region had significantly higher concentrations of Zn and Pb, while wool from Pag had the highest concentrations of Fe, Ni, and Cr. Wool from the Bilogora region had significantly higher concentrations of Mn and Cd compared with the other two regions. Based on the determined concentrations of the selected elements in sheep wool, it can be concluded that all three regions in Croatia are relatively free from significant pollution by the studied elements, as their presence is primarily associated with the underlying bedrock.
Keywords
wool; regions; trace elements; heavy metals; environment
Hrčak ID:
348744
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2026.
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