Public concerns over presumed metal and radionuclide pollution: testing a possible link to ovine hepatic melanosis in South Greenland.

ABSTRACT: In South Greenland, public concerns have linked "black livers" in sheep to presumed environmental pollution from the Kvanefjeld mining exploration project. Elevated concentrations of metals and radionuclides in the area reflect natural geochemistry and weathering processes, not pollution from exploration activities. However, in response, we conducted a preliminary case-control study to diagnose the condition, investigate links between liver discoloration and environmental concentrations of metals and radionuclides, and to estimate the annual effective dose to the public from polonium-210 (²¹⁰Po) ingestion via sheep and lamb liver consumption. We also evaluated the prevalence of acquired melanosis, grazing and herd effects, and their association with carcass quality and disease m

SUBMITTER: Hansen V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12823691 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature