title: Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis, Van Benédén 1864) as indicators of the bioaccumulation of total mercury along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Southeastern Brazil.
abstract: Total mercury (Hg) was determined in muscle tissue of 20 Guiana dolphins stranded along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with a mean of 1.07 μg/g wet weight. Mercury concentrations were positively related to body length, possibly related to the capacity of the dolphins to bioaccumulate this element throughout life. The Hg concentrations were not significantly different between males and females, although females (1.08 μg/g) showed slightly higher levels than males (1.04 μg/g). Concentrations were low when compared to results of studies carried out with small cetaceans in the Northern Hemisphere, and with previous studies in the Southeastern Brazil.
authors: PPG em Saúde Pública e Meio Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. jailsonfm@gmail.com
authors: Jailson Fulgencio
authors: JF
authors: de Moura
authors: Sandra de Souza
authors: Sde S
authors: Hacon
authors: Claudia Maribel
authors: CM
authors: Vega
authors: Rachel Ann
authors: RA
authors: Hauser-Davis
authors: Reinaldo Calixto
authors: RC
authors: de Campos
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Siciliano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004289:Dolphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury