title: Mercury and selenium concentrations in skeletal muscle, liver, and regions of the heart and kidney in bearded seals from Alaska, USA.
abstract: Mean concentrations of total mercury ([THg]) and selenium ([TSe]) (mass and molar-based) were determined for 5 regions of the heart and 2 regions of the kidney of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) harvested in Alaska, USA, in 2010 and 2011. Mean [THg] and [TSe] of bearded seal liver and skeletal muscle tissues were used for intertissular comparison. The Se:Hg molar ratios were used to investigate elemental associations and potential antioxidant protection against Hg toxicosis. Age was an important factor in [THg] and Se:Hg molar ratios in heart and kidney. Small but statistically significant differences in mean [THg] occurred among some of the 5 heart regions (p < 0.05). Mean [THg] was highest in liver, 3.057 µg/g, and lowest in heart left ventricle, 0.017 µg/g. Mean [THg] ranked: liver > kidney cortex > kidney medulla > skeletal muscle > heart left ventricle (p < 0.001). Mean [TSe] was highest in liver, 3.848 µg/g, and lowest in heart left ventricle, 0.632 µg/g. Mean [TSe] ranked: liver > kidney cortex > kidney medulla > skeletal muscle > heart left ventricle (p < 0.001). The Se:Hg molar ratios were significantly greater than 1.0 in all tissues (p < 0.001) and represented baselines for normal [TSe] under relatively low [THg]. Mean Se:Hg molar ratios ranked: heart left ventricle > kidney medulla > kidney cortex (p < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Lucero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: J Margaret
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castellini
authors.affiliation: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Lori T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Quakenbush
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.|Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Hara
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000378:metabolism*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Bearded seal; Biomonitoring; Mercury; Molar ratio; Selenium