title: A note on mercury levels in the hair of Alaskan reindeer.
abstract: Reindeer, as terrestrial herbivores, generally have low levels of Hg, but monitoring Hg levels can help in understanding ecological toxicity related to a changing environment. In this study, Alaskan reindeer were analyzed for total mercury (THg) in their hair. Both free-ranging reindeer from the Seward Peninsula, Alaska and reindeer fed a pollock-based fishmeal diet were surveyed. Free ranging reindeer had mean THg levels of (55.3 ng/g; n=5). The mean MeHg level in the free ranging reindeer was 45.5 (ng/g; n=5) or 79% of the THg level. The mean level for THg in the fishmeal fed reindeer was 19 ng/g (n=10). Younger reindeer (2 years of age or less) showed lower levels (0.8 ng/g, n=2) compared to adult reindeer (30.8 ng/g, n=6).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 756160, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6160, USA. fychem@uaf.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finstad
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerlach
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D008460:Meat; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012053:Reindeer; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury