A Global Overview of Exposure Levels and Biological Effects of Trace Elements in Penguins

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Winfred EspejoGustavo Chiang

Abstract

Trace elements are chemical contaminants that can be present almost anywhere on the planet. The study of trace elements in biotic matrices is a topic of great relevance for the implications that it can have on wildlife and human health. Penguins are very useful, since they live exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere and represent about 90% of the biomass of birds of the Southern Ocean. The levels of trace elements (dry weight) in different biotic matrices of penguins were reviewed here. Maps of trace element records in penguins were included. Data on exposure and effects of trace elements in penguins were collected from the literature. The most reported trace elements in penguins are aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, and manganese. Trace elements have been measured in 11 of the 18 species of penguins. The most studied biotic matrices are feathers and excreta. Most of the studies have been performed in Antarctica and subantarctic Islands. Little is known about the interaction among metals, which could provide better knowledge about certain mechanisms of detoxification in penguins. Future studies of trace elements in penguins must incorporate other metals such as vanadium, cobalt, nickel, and chromium. Data...Continue Reading

Citations

May 13, 2019·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Veronica NardielloMarcos Pérez-López
Jan 23, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Emrah CelikHumeyra Nergiz Uyar
Mar 25, 2021·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·David Hernández-MorenoSimone Bertini

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