QUOTE
Environ Monit Assess. 2013 Aug 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Mercury in various tissues of three mustelid species and other trace
metals in liver of European otter from Eastern Finland.
Lodenius M, Skaren U, Hellstedt P, Tulisalo E.
Source
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki,
P.O. Box. 65, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
Abstract
Mercury concentrations were monitored in European otter (Lutra lutra),
European polecat (Mustela putorius) and European pine marten (Martes
martes) collected in Eastern Finland during the period 1972-2008.
Otters mainly eat fish, which is an important reason to monitor the
bioaccumulation of mercury in this predator. In this species, the
highest concentrations were found in fur followed by liver and kidney,
and the mercury concentrations increased with increasing age and body
weight. Males showed in general higher concentrations than females of
otters. The food of European polecat consists of small mammals, frogs,
birds and insects from both aquatic and terrestrial food chains. The
mercury concentrations were lower than in otters without significant
differences related to body weight or sex. In European pine martens,
the concentrations were rather evenly distributed except for two
specimens with high concentrations. Also, concentrations of some other
metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were analysed from liver
samples of otter. Possible adverse effects of mercury on the Finnish
populations of these mustelids are discussed.
PMID: 23974535 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
END QUOTE
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Recommended ferret health links:
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http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
all ferret topics:
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[Posted in FML 7906]
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