What are the toxicological effects of mercury in Arctic biota?

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Dietz, Rune, Sonne, Christian, Basu, Niladri, Braune, Birgit, O'Hara, Todd, Letcher, Robert J, Scheuhammer, Tony, Andersen, Magnus, Andreasen, Claus, Andriashek, Dennis, Asmund, Gert, Aubail, Aurore, Baagøe, Hans J., Born, Erik W, Chan, Hing M, Derocher, Andrew E, Grandjean, Philippe, Knott, Katrina, Kirkegaard, Maja, Krey, Anke, Lunn, Nick, Messier, Francoise, Obbard, Marty, Olsen, Morten Tange, Ostertag, Sonja, Peacock, Elizabeth, Renzoni, Aristeo, Rigét, Frank F, Skaare, Janneche Utne, Stern, Gary, Stirling, Ian, Taylor, Mitch, Wiig, Oystein, Wilson, Simon, Aars, Jon
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Birds; Exposure; Fish; Heavy metals; Mammals; Threshold levels; Marine Biology; Animals; Arctic Regions; Mercury/pharmacokinetics; Arctic; Canada; Greenland; arctic marine biota; Beluga; Beluga whale; Beluga*; Cystophora cristata; Delphinapterus leucas; hooded seal; inuit; Salvelinus alpinus; toothed whales; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/eba95770-7d81-4d55-9cbc-2d9d26918d2f; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.11.046

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.