title: What are the toxicological effects of mercury in Arctic biota?
abstract: This review critically evaluates the available mercury (Hg) data in Arctic marine biota and the Inuit population against toxicity threshold values. In particular marine top predators exhibit concentrations of mercury in their tissues and organs that are believed to exceed thresholds for biological effects. Species whose concentrations exceed threshold values include the polar bears (Ursus maritimus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), pilot whale (Globicephala melas), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a few seabird species, and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Toothed whales appear to be one of the most vulnerable groups, with high concentrations of mercury recorded in brain tissue with associated signs of neurochemical effects. Evidence of increasing concentrations in mercury in some biota in Arctic Canada and Greenland is therefore a concern with respect to ecosystem health.
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Department for Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, P.O. Box 358, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark. rdi@dmu.dk
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sonne
authors.forename: Niladri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braune
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Letcher
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scheuhammer
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreasen
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andriashek
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asmund
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aubail
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baagøe
authors.forename: Erik W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: Hing M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Derocher
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grandjean
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knott
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirkegaard
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krey
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lunn
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Messier
authors.forename: Marty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obbard
authors.forename: Morten T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostertag
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Aristeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzoni
authors.forename: Frank F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rigét
authors.forename: Janneche Utne
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Skaare
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stirling
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Øystein
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Wiig
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aars
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D008386:Marine Biology; D008628:Mercury / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury