Specific accumulation of mercury and selenium in seabirds

×

Error message

Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in drupal_settings_initialize() (line 806 of D:\htdocs\sma\includes\bootstrap.inc).
TitleSpecific accumulation of mercury and selenium in seabirds
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1996
AuthorsKim, EY, Saeki, K, Tanabe, S, Tanaka, H, Tatsukawa, R
Volume94
Issue3
Pagination261 - 265
Date Published01/1996
ISBN Number0269-7491
Abstract

Total mercury (T-Hg), methyl mercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) concentrations were determined to elucidate the relationship between Hg and Se levels in the liver of 10 seabird species. Highest concentrations of T-Hg (mean 267 μg/g dry wt), MeHg (mean 25.5 μg/g dry wt) and Se (mean 113 μg/g dry wt) were in the liver of black-footed albatross (Diomedea nigripes). An equivalent molar ratio of 1:1 between T-Hg and Se was found in the liver of individuals which contain over 100 μg Hg/g. However, such a relationship was unclear in other individuals which had relatively low Hg levels. This suggests that Se plays a role in Hg detoxification for those individuals with high Hg. In seabird tissues, Hg and Se levels should be a most important factor determining the relationship between Hg and Se, and fluctuation of Hg burden through molting and the species-specific demethylation capacity would also influence their relationships.

URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749196001108
DOI10.1016/S0269-7491(96)00110-8
Short TitleEnvironmental Pollution