title: Mercury, methylmercury, and selenium in blood of bird species from Doñana National Park (Southwestern Spain) after a mining accident.
abstract: Total mercury (Hg), monomethylmercury (MeHg), and selenium (Se) were determined in blood of 11 bird species living in Doñana National Park (DNP, Southwestern Spain) and the surrounding area in 1999 and 2000 after a mine spill accident. The total Hg contents found varied from 1.00 to 587 ng/mL, with an MeHg percentage higher than 80 %, except in mallard species. In all the cases, the concentrations found were below the threshold of high risk for the bird populations. The parameters which most affected the accumulation of Hg and MeHg in the birds studied were, first, species, or trophic position, and second sampling area. Age does not seem to have a great influence on the content of Hg in the blood of these birds. The levels of Se found ranged from 108 to 873 ng/mL, and they were not affected by species, trophic level, age, or sampling area. The blood Hg concentrations of birds living in the area directly affected by the toxic mud, outside the park, were higher than those found in the other birds, and this could be explained by the mine spill accident happened in 1998.
authors: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Avda. Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors: C Rodríguez
authors: CR
authors: Alvárez
authors: M Jiménez
authors: MJ
authors: Moreno
authors: L López
authors: LL
authors: Alonso
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Gómara
authors: F J Guzmán
authors: FJ
authors: Bernardo
authors: R C Rodríguez
authors: RC
authors: Martín-Doimeadios
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: González
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood*; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D008906:Mining; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium