Mercury concentration in 3 species of Gulls, Larus ridibundus, Larus minutus, Larus canus, from south coast of the Caspian Sea, Iran

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2010 Jun;84(6):716-9. doi: 10.1007/s00128-010-9973-4. Epub 2010 Apr 28.

Abstract

In this study, the mercury concentrations of liver, breast feathers and tail feathers in three species of Gull; Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), Common Gull (Larus canus) and Little Gull (Larus minutus) from the South coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran were assayed. Mercury accumulation in liver, breast feathers and tail feathers of species were 1.69-3.16, 2.88-7.18 and 2.09-5.66 mg/kg, respectively. Mercury concentration hierarchy in tissues we tested was as follows: breast feather > tail feather > and liver. We found that despite its small size, Little Gull had highest (3.85-8.05 mg/kg) and Common Gull lowest (1.69-2.88 mg/kg) level of Hg in their bodies. An inverse relationship between body size and Hg levels in these Gulls was detected. Mercury in Little Gull and Black-headed Gull exceeded the 5 ppm threshold for adverse effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Charadriiformes / metabolism*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / pharmacokinetics
  • Feathers / metabolism
  • Iran
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mercury / analysis*
  • Mercury / pharmacokinetics
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Species Specificity
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Mercury