A role for airborne particulates in high mercury levels of some cetaceans.
In a study of 25 Tursiops truncatus and two Globicephala macrorhynchus examined by necropsy, abundant HgSe was found in both the liver and in the respiratory system (lung and hilar lymph nodes). In the liver HgSe was consistently associated with the cell-breakdown pigment lipofuscin, whereas in lung and hilar lymph nodes it was consistently associated with particulates consisting of partially graphitic soot and silicates. This supports earlier suggestions that in the liver HgSe may be a storage end product of Hg metabolism, while adding the new suggestion that in the respiratory system HgSe may be inhaled, preformed in combustion emissions.
Rawson
A J
AJ
Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida 34236, USA.
Bradley
J P
JP
Teetsov
A
A
Rice
S B
SB
Haller
E M
EM
Patton
G W
GW
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002591:Cetacea / Q000378:metabolism*; D004289:Dolphins / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014907:Whales / Q000378:metabolism; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D000393:Air Pollutants; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; C032901:mercury-selenium complex; D008628:Mercury