title: Mercury and selenium in the muscle of piscivorous common mergansers (Mergus merganser) from a selenium-deficient European country.
abstract: Although the relationship between mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) has been studied in wild birds in areas with sufficient or excessive Se levels, little is known about this relationship in areas where the supply of Se is limited. As Hg detoxification is based on the production of biologically inactive Hg-Se complexes, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the concentrations of total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), inorganic mercury (InHg=THg-MeHg), percent MeHg of THg, Se and molar ratios (THg:Se, MeHg:Se, InHg:Se) in the breast muscle (n=16) of the piscivorous common mergansers (Mergus merganser) from a Se-deficient and moderately Hg-polluted area in Poland. Mergansers were divided into two groups differing in condition (A-very good condition; C-moderate condition). Concentrations of THg, MeHg and Se were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, modified gas chromatography atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, and spectrofluorometric methods, respectively. In all studied mergansers, mean concentrations of THg, MeHg, InHg, and Se in muscle were 2.63, 1.92, 0.46, and 0.54µgg(-1)dw, respectively. THg and MeHg concentrations in the muscle of group A mergansers were greater than in group C. The ratio of THg:Se was higher in group A than in group C (2.32 vs 1.36; p<0.01), as well as the molar ratio of MeHg:Se (A vs C: 1.98 vs 1.03; p<0.05). Comparisons between mergansers from Poland and Canada showed similar THg and percent MeHg in the muscle, but mergansers from Poland had several times lower Se levels and higher THg:Se ratios (>2.0) than the Canadian mergansers and other European and North American waterbirds. We found statistically significant positive correlations (MeHg-THg, percent MeHg/THg-MeHg, percent InHg/THg-InHg, THg:Se-THg, MeHg:Se-THg, THg:Se-MeHg, MeHg:Se-MeHg, InHg:Se-InHg, MeHg:Se-THg:Se) and some negative correlations (percent InHg/THg-MeHg, percent MeHg/THg-InHg, THg:Se-Se, MeHg:Se-Se). As THg and percent MeHg in the studied mergansers were similar to populations living in non-Se-deficient areas, it is likely that different mechanisms of muscle Hg detoxification have evolved in mergansers populations living in Se-deficient areas.
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Elzbieta
authors: E
authors: Kalisinska
authors: Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Gorecki
authors: Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Okonska
authors: Department of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Doktora Judyma 10, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Bogumila
authors: B
authors: Pilarczyk
authors: Department of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Doktora Judyma 10, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Tomza-Marciniak
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Halina
authors: H
authors: Budis
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Lanocha
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: kodan@pum.edu.pl.
authors: Danuta I
authors: DI
authors: Kosik-Bogacka
authors: Laboratory of Biology and Ecology of Parasites, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Doktora Judyma 10, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Katarzyna M
authors: KM
authors: Kavetska
authors: Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Mariusz
authors: M
authors: Macherzynski
authors: Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Janusz M
authors: JM
authors: Golas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011044:Poland; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Duck; Mercury; Merganser; Muscle; Selenium