Organochlorine and mercury residues in wild mink and otter: Comparison with fish

Abstract

Organochlorine and mercury levels in wild mink (Mustela vison) and otter (Lutra canadensis) from eight areas of New York State were measured in adipose and liver tissues. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds, quantified as Aroclor 1254/1260 and p,p'‐DDE, were detected in all animals. Significantly greater concentrations of organochlorines in both species were associated with habitat known to be contaminated with PCB (Hudson Valley and within 5 mi of Lake Ontario). Wet‐weight PCB concentrations in adipose tissue of mink and otter from the more contaminated areas ranged as high as 67 and 114 μg/g, respectively. PCB levels in wild mink are similar to those that caused reproductive problems in other controlled feeding studies. Mercury concentrations in liver tissue were similar in both species (mean, 2.2 and 1.8 μg/g wet weight in mink and otter, respectively). Comparisons of the mink and otter body burdens with data for fish from New York's statewide Toxic Substance Monitoring Program were made. To test the hypothesis that organochlorine contaminant concentrations in mink and otter are related to environmental levels, collection locations of fish were paired with those of mink or otter on the basis of the size of the home range of the respective mammal. Correlations between fish and both mammalian species were significant for PCB and p,p'‐DDE when fish and mustelid collection stations were between 10 and 20 km apart. Correlations for mercury in fish and mustelids were significant only on the basis of major watershed.

Contaminant concentrations in Illinois mink and otter

“…(Stejskal et al 1989). Mercury concentrations in liver tissue of Illinois mink are lower than those reported from wild mink in New York (Foley et al 1988) but similar to those reported in liver, kidney and muscle tissue from wild mink collected in less polluted regions of Ontario (Wren et al 1986). Mercury concentrations in liver tissue of Illinois mink are lower than those reported from wild mink in New York (Foley et al 1988) but similar to those reported in liver, kidney and muscle tissue from wild mink collected in less polluted regions of Ontario (Wren et al 1986).…”

Piscivorous Mammalian Wildlife as Sentinels of Methylmercury Exposure and Neurotoxicity in Humans

“…For example, fatty acid signatures and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in herring gulls sampled between 1978 and 2005 have indicated a decline in fi sh consumption, and this corresponded well with decreased levels of contaminants in their eggs (Hebert et al 2008 ) . Others have reported that varying levels of mercury in local prey fi sh relate well with mercury levels in mink and river otter tissues (Cumbie 1975 ;Kucera 1983 ;Wren et al 1986 ;Foley et al 1988 ) .…”

Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco- Pharmacovigilance

“…As top level piscivorous predators, osprey (Pandion haliaetus), otter (Lutra sp.) and mink are generally considered to be representative barometers of aquatic/semi-aquatic ecosystem health [10,[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]. Interestingly, the use of mink and otter as sentinels/bio-indicators or related sample types, as both pertain to factors such as contaminant body burden, have been called into question [72,73].…”