What are the toxicological effects of mercury in Arctic biota?

Authors

• Rune Dietz, Aarhus UniversityFollow
• Christian Sonne, Aarhus University
• Niladri Basu, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• Birgit Braune, Carleton University
• Todd O'Hara, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Robert J. Letcher, Carleton University
• Tony Scheuhammer, Carleton University
• Magnus Andersen, Norwegian Polar Institute
• Claus Andreasen, Greenland National Museum and Archives in Nuuk
• Dennis Andriashek, Canadian Wildlife Service
• Gert Asmund, Aarhus University
• Aurore Aubail, Aarhus University
• Hans Baagøe, Universitetsparken
• Erik W. Born, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
• Hing M. Chan, University of Northern British Columbia
• Andrew E. Derocher, University of Alberta
• Philippe Grandjean, University of Southern Denmark
• Katrina Knott, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Maja Kirkegaard, Aarhus University
• Anke Krey, University of Northern British Columbia
• Nick Lunn, Canadian Wildlife Service
• Francoise Messier, University of Saskatchewan
• Marty Obbard, Trent University
• Morten T. Olsen, Aarhus University
• Sonja Ostertag, University of Northern British Columbia
• Elizabeth Peacock, USGS Alaska Science Center
• Aristeo Renzoni, Universita` di Siena
• Frank F. Rigét, Aarhus University
• Janneche Utne Skaare, National Veterinary Institute
• Gary Stern, University of Manitoba
• Ian Stirling, Canadian Wildlife Service
• Mitch Taylor, Government of Nunavut
• Øystein Wiig, University of Oslo
• Simon Wilson, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme
• Jon Aars, Norwegian Polar Institute

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Science of the Total Environment 443 (2013) 775–790; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.11.046

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.