Moose organs not toxic

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Native people in the province of Alberta probably don't have to worry about moose organs being contaminated by cadium ? a toxic substance ? says an officer with Alberta Fish and Wildlife.

A recent report in the Edmonton Journal stated that health officials in Manitoba advised people not to eat moose kidney and liver after potentially dangerous cadium was found in them.

An Edmonton district officer with Fish and Wildlife Bernie Arnold, said there is "no indication whatsoever," that the same situation exists in Alberta.

Fish and Wildlife assistant director Bob Hall, stated, "To our knowledge it (cadium contamination) has never cropped up."

According to the Edmonton Journal report cadium is a natural metallic element found in soil and water across the country. Cadium produced by heavy smelting operations is released into the soil and can get into the vegetation which moose graze on.

The head of the Animal Sciences Environmental Centre in Vegreville said, "We all take in a little bit (of cadium)" and problems only occur when the amounts are exceedingly high.

"I'm not sure that cadium toxicity has ever been identified here, (in Alberta)," said Dr. Len Lillie.

He says the testing of moose for cadium by tissue analysis is done occasionally but not on a regular basis.

Lillie said he doesn't "have any indication that it (moose contamination) is likely to be a problem here."