Trace Element Concentrations in Liver of 16 Species of Cetaceans Stranded on Pacific Islands from 1997 through 2013

Hansen, Angela M. K.; Bryan, Colleen E.; West, Kristi L.; Jensen, Brenda A.

doi:10.1007/s00244-015-0204-1

Cited by 40 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 124 publications

(151 reference statements)

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“…Concentrations were up to 1,980 µg/g wet weight in the livers of small odontocetes sold for human consumption in Japan , and high concentrations (max. 1,571 µg/g wet weight) were also found in the liver of an adult female false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) from the Hawaiian Islands region (Hansen, et al 2016). High concentrations were measured in the livers of a small number of bottlenose dolphins stranded in the Canary Islands between 1997 and 2013 (max.…”

Section: Highest Measured Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…As individuals reach their adult size, they demethylate methylmercury from their diet more efficiently, and in the case of high mercury exposure, a close to 1:1 molar ratio of Hg:Se is maintained in adulthood (Sakamoto, et al 2015;Hansen, et al 2016). In fact, many studies have reported a significant correlation between selenium and mercury concentrations in both cetacean liver and kidney samples, with molar ratios of close to 1 (Bustamante, et al 2003;Yang, et al 2007;Capelli, et al 2008;Cáceres-Saez, et al 2013;Hansen, et al 2016) or below < 1) is likely to be at lower risk of direct mercury toxicity, whereas an animal with a molar excess of mercury (Hg:Se > 1) is at greater risk (Hansen, et al 2016). The toxicological significance for individuals and populations from studies reporting levels of mercury without associated selenium levels are therefore hard to interpret.…”

Section: Mercury Detoxification: Methylmercury Demethylation and Selenium Bindingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury in cetaceans: Exposure, bioaccumulation and toxicity

Kershaw

Hall

2019

Science of The Total Environment

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The fate and transportation of mercury in the marine environment are driven by combinations of anthropogenic atmospheric and aquatic sources, as well as natural geological inputs.Mercury bioaccumulates and biomagnifies up the food chain and can result in the accumulation of toxic concentrations in organisms even when the concentrations in the marine environment remain below the threshold level for direct toxicity. As a result, mercury exposure has been recognised as a health concern for both humans and top marine predators, including cetaceans.There appears to be no overall trend in the global measured concentrations reported in cetaceans between 1975 -2010, although differences between areas show that the highest concentrations in recent decades have been measured in the tissues of Mediterranean odontocetes. There is increasing concern for the impacts of mercury in the Arctic marine ecosystem with changes in water temperatures, ocean currents and prey availability all predicted to impact the exposure of Arctic species to mercury. The accumulation of mercury in various tissues has been linked to kidney and liver damage as well as other neurotoxic, genotoxic and immunotoxic effects. These effects have been documented through studies on stranded and by-caught individuals as well as in vitro cell culture experiments. Demethylation of methylmercury and protection by selenium have been suggested as possible mercury detoxification mechanisms in cetaceans that can help to explain the very high concentrations measured in tissues of some species with no apparent acute toxicity. Thus, the ratio of selenium to mercury is of importance when aiming to determine the potential toxicity of the contaminant load at an individual level. The long-term population level effects of mercury exposure are unknown, and continued monitoring of odontocete populations in particular is advised in order to predict the uptake and impact of mercury on marine food chains in the future.

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Section: Highest Measured Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Mercury Detoxification: Methylmercury Demethylation and Selenium Bindingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury in cetaceans: Exposure, bioaccumulation and toxicity

Kershaw

Hall

2019

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Liver THg concentrations in the present study were 31 times higher on average than those in muscle tissues from the same seal, which is close to trends observed in ringed seals in northern Canada (Braune et al, 2015). Trace elements concentrate in the liver due to this organ’s role in the homeostatic regulation of essential trace elements and the sequestration of non-essential and toxic trace elements (Hansen et al, 2016), whereas Cd tends to accumulate in the kidneys due to the presence of metal-binding proteins (Das et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace elements in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence

MacMillan

Amyot

Daoust

et al. 2021

Preprint

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We measured baseline levels of 19 trace element and mercury speciation for grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL), Quebec, Canada. With interest growing in commercializing grey seal products for human consumption in this region, the goal of this study was to measure essential and non-essential trace elements in grey seals to evaluate health concerns and nutritional benefits. From 2015 to 2019, 120 grey seals were sampled by hunters and researchers at 4 sites in the GSL. Muscle, liver, heart and kidney samples were analyzed for 10 non-essential elements (Sb, As, Be, B, Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Tl, Sn) and 9 essential elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn). Both total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were analysed for a subset of samples. Many elements were undetected in liver (Sb, As, Be, B, Cr, Co, Pb, Ni, Tl, Sn) and muscle tissues (same, plus Cd, Mn, Mo). Results showed lower element concentrations in the muscle (Fe, Mg, Se) and livers (Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Mo, Se) of young-of-the-year harvested in the winter (< 6 weeks old) compared to older animals feeding at sea. For older seals (~ 5 months to 29 years), we did not observe progressive age-dependent bioaccumulation. Sex-specific differences were not very pronounced, but a few elements were 30 - 70% higher in the muscle (THg, MeHg) and liver (Mn, Zn) of male seals. Comparison to Canadian dietary reference intakes shows that a weekly portion of liver from young-of-the-year (< 6 weeks old) is a good source of essential elements (Cu, Fe) and that muscle and liver from this age category does not exceed reference values for toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb, MeHg). Ongoing discussions with regional public health professionals will help to develop dietary recommendations for the consumption of older grey seals.

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“…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.…”

Section: Conclusion and Research Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicology of Marine Mammals: New Developments and Opportunities

Weijs

Zaccaroni

2015

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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It is widely recognized that marine mammals are exposed to a wide variety of pollutants, with a weight of evidence indicating impacts on their health. Since hundreds of new chemicals enter the global market every year, the methods, approaches and technologies used to characterize pollution levels or impacts are also in a constant state of flux. However, legal and ethical constraints often limit the type and extent of toxicological research being carried out in marine mammals. Nevertheless, new and emerging in vivo, in vitro as well as in silico research opportunities abound in the field of marine mammal toxicology. In the application of findings to population-, species-, or habitatrelated risk assessments, the identification of causal relationships which inform source apportionment is important. This, in turn, is informed by a comprehensive understanding of contaminant classes, profiles and fate over space and time. Such considerations figure prominently in the design and interpretation of marine mammal (eco)-toxicology research. This mini-review attempts to follow the evolution behind marine mammal toxicology until now, highlight some of the research that has been done and suggest opportunities for future research. This Special Issue will showcase new developments in marine mammal toxicology, approaches for exposure-effect research in risk assessment as well as future opportunities.

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Trace Element Concentrations in Liver of 16 Species of Cetaceans Stranded on Pacific Islands from 1997 through 2013

Cited by 40 publications

References 124 publications

Mercury in cetaceans: Exposure, bioaccumulation and toxicity

Mercury in cetaceans: Exposure, bioaccumulation and toxicity

Trace elements in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Toxicology of Marine Mammals: New Developments and Opportunities

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