Mercury concentration in 3 species of Gulls, Larus ridibundus, Larus minutus, Larus canus, from south coast of the Caspian Sea, Iran.
In this study, the mercury concentrations of liver, breast feathers and tail feathers in three species of Gull; Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), Common Gull (Larus canus) and Little Gull (Larus minutus) from the South coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran were assayed. Mercury accumulation in liver, breast feathers and tail feathers of species were 1.69-3.16, 2.88-7.18 and 2.09-5.66 mg/kg, respectively. Mercury concentration hierarchy in tissues we tested was as follows: breast feather > tail feather > and liver. We found that despite its small size, Little Gull had highest (3.85-8.05 mg/kg) and Common Gull lowest (1.69-2.88 mg/kg) level of Hg in their bodies. An inverse relationship between body size and Hg levels in these Gulls was detected. Mercury in Little Gull and Black-headed Gull exceeded the 5 ppm threshold for adverse effect.
Rajaei
Fateme
F
Department of Environment Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran.
Esmaili Sari
Abbas
A
Bahramifar
Nader
N
Ghasempouri
Seyed Mahmoud
SM
Savabieasfahani
Mozhgan
M
D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005241:Feathers / Q000378:metabolism; D007492:Iran; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D013045:Species Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008628:Mercury