Accumulation of Hg and other heavy metals in the Javan mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) captured on Amamioshima Island, Japan.
Concentrations of 22 elements (Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Tl, total Hg (T-Hg), Pb) and organic Hg (O-Hg) were examined in the liver, kidney and brain of the Javan mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) and in liver of the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) from Amamioshima Island in Japan. Relatively high levels of T-Hg levels (from 1.75 to 55.5 microg g-1 wet wt.) were found in the Javan mongoose. As for a comparison of hepatic T-Hg concentrations between the two areas, there was no significant difference between the Javan mongoose in Amamioshima and those in the Okinawa islands. In addition, T-Hg levels in the livers of the Amami rabbit were the same as in the livers of other herbivorous mammals. Taken together, it suggested that T-Hg accumulation in the livers of the Javan mongoose was not affected by the environment but by a specific physiological mechanism. The comparison of Hg and other heavy metal accumulations between terrestrial mammals (13 species, 61 individuals) including the Javan mongoose and marine mammals (18 species, 508 individuals) were also discussed.
Department of Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. horais@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Sawako
S
Horai
Mikiko
M
Minagawa
Hirokazu
H
Ozaki
Izumi
I
Watanabe
Yasuo
Y
Takeda
Katsushi
K
Yamada
Tetsuo
T
Ando
Suminori
S
Akiba
Shintaro
S
Abe
Katsuji
K
Kuno
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008988:Herpestidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D007564:Japan; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008628:Mercury