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

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.