First-Time Isotopic Characterization of Seleno-Compounds in Biota: A Pilot Study of Selenium Isotopic Composition in Top Predator Seabirds

• Published in: Environmental Science & Technology
• Main Authors: Marchán-Moreno, Claudia, Louvat, Pascale, Bueno, Maïté, Bérail, Sylvain, Corns, Warren, Cherel, Yves, Bustamante, Paco, Amouroux, David, Pedrero, Zoyne
• Other Authors: Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l'environnement et les materiaux (IPREM), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA)-Institut de Chimie - CNRS Chimie (INC-CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), PS Analytical Kent, UK, Crayfields Industrial Estate, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ANR-18-CE34-0004,MERSEL,Repousser les limites de la spéciation pour l'étude du mercure et de sa détoxication par le sélénium dans des organismes clés(2018)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2024
• Subjects: biota; giant petrel; HG-MC-ICP-MS; HgSe nanoparticles; selenoneine; stable isotopes; [CHIM.MATE]Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry; [CHIM.ANAL]Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry; [CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers; [CHIM.THEO]Chemical Sciences/Theoretical and/or physical chemistry; Giant Petrel; Giant Petrels
• Online Access: https://univ-pau.hal.science/hal-04672418; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c02319

International audience This study pioneers the reporting of Se isotopes in marine top predators and represents the most extensive Se isotopic characterization in animals to date. A methodology based on hydride generation─multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry─was established for such samples. The study was conducted on various internal organs of giant petrels (Macronectes spp.), encompassing bulk tissues (δ82/78Sebulk), distinct Se-specific fractions such as selenoneine (δ82/78SeSEN), and HgSe nanoparticles (δ82/78SeNPs). The δ82/78Sebulk results (2.0-5.6‰) offer preliminary insights into the fate of Se in key internal organs of seabirds, including the liver, the kidneys, the muscle, and the brain. Notably, the liver of all individuals was enriched in heavier Se isotopes compared to other examined tissues. In nanoparticle fraction, δ82/78Se varies significantly across individuals (δ82/78SeNPs from 0.6 to 5.7‰, n = 8), whereas it exhibits remarkable consistency among tissues and individuals for selenoneine (δ82/78SeSEN, 1.7 ± 0.3‰, n = 8). Significantly, there was a positive correlation between the shift from δ82/78Sebulk to δ82/78SeSEN and the proportion of Se present as selenoneine in the internal organs. This pilot study proves that Se species-specific isotopic composition is a promising tool for a better understanding of Se species fate, sources, and dynamics in animals.