Vicuna is a wild, endangered species of Andean camelid living in the hyperarid Andean plateau. In the central part of the plateau, the Lithium Triangle defines a zone with lithium-rich salt pans. Brine pools naturally form within the salt pans, and the adaptation strategy of vicuna consists of drinking from brine pools. Together with reporting the first chemical data on vicuna bones and teeth, we analyzed lithium, boron, and arsenic in water and brines, with the aim of assessing their relation to chronic exposure by water ingestion. We collected and analyzed bones of vicuna specimens lying in an Andean salt pan, together with brine and water samples. Brine and water samples are highly saline and contain large amounts of lithium, boron, and arsenic. Lithium (13.50-40 mg kg-1 ) and boron (40-46.80 mg kg-1 ), but not arsenic, were found in the vicuna bones and teeth. Based on our results and on previously reported data on human tissues in the Andes, we conducted statistical assessments of the relationships between lithium and boron in body tissues and water samples, and discuss their environmental significance in the context of the Lithium Triangle. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;39:200-209. © 2019 SETAC.

中文翻译：

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安第斯锂三角洲中，骆马钙化组织中的锂和硼及其与慢性摄入水摄入的关系。

骆马是生活在高度干旱的安第斯高原上的野生，濒危的安第斯骆驼科物种。在高原的中央部分，锂三角形定义了一个区域，该区域带有富含锂的盐盘。盐池内自然形成盐水池，而骆马的适应策略包括从盐水池中饮用。连同报告有关骆马之骨和牙齿的第一批化学数据，我们分析了水和盐水中的锂，硼和砷，目的是评估它们与食水引起的慢性暴露的关系。我们收集并分析了安第斯盐锅中的骆马标本的骨骼，以及盐水和水样。盐水和水样品的盐分很高，并且含有大量的锂，硼和砷。锂（13.50-40 mg kg-1）和硼（40-46.80 mg kg-1），但不含砷，在骆马的骨头和牙齿中被发现。根据我们的结果以及先前在安第斯山脉人体组织上报告的数据，我们对人体组织和水样中锂和硼之间的关系进行了统计评估，并在锂三角的背景下讨论了它们对环境的重要性。Environ Toxicol Chem 2019; 39：200-209。©2019 SETAC。