Mercury in seabirds

Dale, I. M.; Baxter, M.S.; Bogan, J. A.; Bourne, W.R.P.

doi:10.1016/0025-326x(73)90243-9

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The results of this study are in accordance with worldwide literature. Mean Hg concentrations in P. puffinus hepatic tissue were slightly higher than those reported by Dale et al [ 20 ] but somewhat lower than those reported by Osborn et al [ 21 ]. The means in muscle tissue were somewhat higher than the results by Osborn et al [ 21 ].…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 66%

The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) as a candidate sentinel of Atlantic Ocean health

Cardoso¹,

Moura

Tavares

et al. 2014

Aquat Biosyst

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IntroductionSeabirds have been historically used to monitor environmental contamination. The aim of the present study was to test the suitability of a species belonging to the Procellariiformes group, the Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus, as a sentinel of environmental health, by determining contaminant levels (trace metals and organochlorine compounds) from carcass tissues and by isolating Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp. from live specimens. To this end, 35 Puffinus puffinus carcasses wrecked on the north-central coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and two carcasses recovered in Aracruz, on the coast of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were sampled, and fragments of muscle and hepatic tissues were collected for contaminant analyses. Swabs from eleven birds found alive at the north-central coast of Rio de Janeiro were collected for isolation of the aforementioned bacteria.ResultsThe average concentration in dry weight (dw) of the trace metals were: mercury 7.19 mg kg-1(liver) and 1.23 mg kg-1 (muscle); selenium 34.66 mg kg-1 (liver) and 7.98 mg kg-1 (muscle); cadmium 22.33 mg kg-1 (liver) and 1.11 mg kg-1 (muscle); and lead, 0.1 mg kg--1 (liver) and 0.16 mg kg-1 (muscle). Organochlorine compounds were detected in all specimens, and hexachlorbiphenyls, heptachlorbiphenyls and DDTs presented the highest levels. Regarding microbiological contamination, bacteria from the Vibrio genus were isolated from 91% of the analyzed specimens. Vibrio harveyi was the predominant species. Bacteria from the Aeromonas genus were isolated from 18% of the specimens. Aeromonas sobria was the only identified species.ConclusionsThe results indicate that Puffinus puffinus seems to be a competent ocean health sentinel. Therefore, the monitoring of contaminant levels and the isolation of public health interest bacteria should proceed in order to consolidate this species importance as a sentinel.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 66%

The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) as a candidate sentinel of Atlantic Ocean health

Cardoso¹,

Moura

Tavares

et al. 2014

Aquat Biosyst

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“…9.4 and 4.0 times the Greenland levels, respectively. Also in Danish eiders, Karlog et al (1983) found high levels, and in three birds from Scotland, Dale et al (1973) report values more than 20 times the level in Greenland eiders. On the other hand, their analyses of L. hyperboreus, R. tridactyla and F. glacialis did not differ significantly from those of Greenland birds.…”

Section: Comparison Of Arctic and Temperate Regionsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Ref Karlog et al ( 1983) 3 Dale et al (1973) 4 Frank (1976 5 Bull et al (1977) 6 Jensen et al ( 1972) 7 Noble & Elliot (1986) 8 Braune (1986)…”

Section: Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metals in Greenland seabirds

Nielsen,

Dietz

1989

Meddr Grønland. Biosci

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From six Greenland districts we report the concentration of Zn, Cd, Hg and Se in muscle (pectoral), liver and kidney for 320 seabirds of the following species: Cepphus grylle, Uria lomvia, Clangula hyemalis, Mergus serrator, Larus glaucoides, L. hyperboreus, Rissa tridactyla, Pagophila eburnea, Fulmarus glacialis, Phalacrocorax carbo and Stercorarius pomarinus. Concentrations vary widely within species. Yearlings are low in Cd and Hg. Concentrations tend to increase with age. No significant differences between sexes were found. On a wet weight basis, the Zn concentration in liver and kidney is c. three times that of muscle. Gulls and the fulmar possess significantly more Zn in muscle than do other seabirds. The Cd concentration in liver and kidney is c. 20 and 80 times higher than in muscle, whereas the Hg concentration in liver and kidney is three to five times higher than that of muscle. The Se concentration in liver and kidney is c. five times the muscle concentration. Muscle, liver and kidney concentrations tend to correlate positively for Cd, Hg and Se. For Zn only liver and kidney concentrations correlate mutually. On a molar basis, the three organs of all species have a large excess of Se over Hg. The intra-organ association of elements is strongest for Zn and Cd in liver and kidney, and for Hg and Se generally. All four elements show consistently higher concentrations in birds from NW and NE Greenland than in those from S Greenland. For C. grylle from Avanersuaq, NW Greenland, the Cd concentration is twice that of birds from S Greenland, the difference being highly significant. Hg concentrations are not significantly different.

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“…Despite their vulnerability to such pollutants, which could lead to direct mortality or reduced fertility, only 2 publications deal with pollutant loads in British divers. [1][2] We report here on the pollutant burden of a Great Northern Diver Gavia burner,…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%