Distribution of total mercury, methyl mercury and selenium in pod of killer whales (Orcinus Orca) stranded in the northern area of Japan: comparison of mature females with calves

Environmental Pollution
Tetsuya EndoMari Kobayashi

Abstract

Total mercury (T-Hg) and selenium (Se) concentrations in liver, kidney and muscle from a pod of killer whales including five mature females and three calves stranded in the northern area of Japan were analyzed. In the mature female, contamination level of T-Hg in the liver sample (62.2+/-21.9 microg/wet g) was markedly higher than that in kidney sample and muscle sample. The molar ratio of T-Hg to Se in the liver sample was approximately 1, and those in the kidney and muscle samples were markedly lower than 1. These results suggest that the formation of HgSe compound increases the hepatic accumulation of mercury (Hg). In contrast, contamination level of T-Hg in the calf organs was much lower than that in the mature female organs. These results suggest that the transfer of Hg from the mother to the fetus via placenta and/or to calf via milk is trace.

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Citations

Aug 19, 2015·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Angela M K HansenBrenda A Jensen
Mar 31, 2007·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Tetsuya EndoKoichi Haraguchi
Mar 13, 2020·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Meaghan A McCormackJessica Dutton
Jul 19, 2020·Scientific Reports·Clare AndvikKatrine Borgå
Nov 15, 2019·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Cristian Alberto DuranteJosé Lailson-Brito
Feb 15, 2011·The Science of the Total Environment·Dan-Yi YangNelson Belzile

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