Mercury in tissues and lice of northern fur seals

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01685109· OSTI ID:5942478

Kim, K C; Chu, R C; Barron, G P

Samples of tissues and sucking lice were collected from fur seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska. Hair and blood samples were taken from cows, newborns, and 2-month-old pups. Mercury was found in all samples analyzed. Hair contained the highest level of mercury as compared to those of the blood, milk and lice. The levels of mercury in the hair, blood and lice of the 2-month-old pups were considerably higher than those of the newborn pups. Presence of mercury in the newborn pups indicates that mercury is able to cross the placental membrane to the fetus. Of particular interest was the correlation between the level of mercury in the blood of the seal and that in the hair and lice. These findings suggest that hair and lice samples should be further tested as a means of monitoring to give an index of the mercury level in this marine animal. 21 references, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
• OSTI ID: 5942478
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 11:3; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALASKA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARCTIC REGIONS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONTAMINATION
CORRELATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION X
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
HAIR
MAMMALS
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MERCURY
METALS
MILK
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
PARASITES
PINNIPEDS
POLAR REGIONS
SKIN
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
USA
VERTEBRATES