Essential and Toxic Elements in Blood Samples of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) from the Islands Helgoland (North Sea) and Anholt (Baltic Sea): A Comparison Study with Urbanized Areas

Abstract

The harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from Helgoland (North Sea) and Anholt (Kattegat, Baltic Sea) are top predators within the marine food web and an indicator species of the environmental contamination. Furthermore, they are a main tourist attraction. Despite these important roles, little is known about the health and pollutant contamination of these seals. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate 18 essential and nonessential/toxic elements (Al, As, Be, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Sr, and Zn) in blood samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and total X-ray-fluorescence spectrometry. Blood concentrations of mineral nutrients, such as Ca, K, P, and S, were within the reference ranges described for harbor seals. Likewise, for the trace elements, As, Be, Rb, Se, and Sr, no significant differences were observed compared with previous studies. Interestingly, blood concentrations of nine nonessential as well as essential trace metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn) measured significantly lower in the offshore living seals from Helgoland and Anholt compared with results obtained from animals living close to urbanized areas, such as the Wadden Sea and Elbe estuary. This suggests that industrial emissions, sewage deposition, shipping traffic and dredging tasks might be the cause of increased metal concentrations of inshore harbor seals.

Movements and spatial usage of harbour seals in the Elbe estuary in Germany

“…Furthermore, pollutant levels are still considered high enough to affect the environment and respective communities 26 . In this context, previous studies have already shown that harbour seals inhabiting the Elbe estuary have significantly higher concentrations of several trace metals in their blood compared to animals from more distant sites in the Wadden Sea or Helgoland 27 , 28 . These developments have sparked considerable conflicts between the conservation of species and the anthropogenically induced alteration of the area 29 , 30 .…”

2016 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its applications

“…From discriminant analysis, six (dog, pig, goat, tapir, monkey, and elephant) out of 15, the species could be classied with 100% specicity. Blood samples from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from Helgoland (North Sea) and Anholt (Kattegat, Baltic Sea) were analysed by Kakuschke and Griesel, 364 to investigate 18 essential and nonessential potentially toxic elements using ICP-MS (Al, Be, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni and Pb) and TXRF spectrometry (As, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, P, Rb, S, Se, Sr and Zn). Interestingly, blood concentrations of nine nonessential as well as essential trace metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn) were measured to be signicantly lower in the offshore living seals from Helgoland and Anholt compared with results obtained from animals living close to urbanised areas, such as the Wadden Sea and Elbe estuary.…”

Toxicology of Marine Mammals: New Developments and Opportunities

“…Peterson et al (2015) have studied the relationship between THg levels in blood and hair in four different pinniped species. Kakuschke and Griesel as well as Hansen et al (2015) have analysed a battery of trace elements in marine mammals: in blood of harbour seals (Kakuschke and Griesel 2015) and in liver of 16 cetacean Species (Hansen et al 2015). Furthermore, although it is often very difficult to obtain feces samples of cetaceans, Lundin et al (2015) have managed to obtain and analyse feces samples of killer whales.…”