Pollutants in harp seals (Phoca groenlandica). II. Heavy metals and selenium

Between 1976 and 1978, 249 harp seals were sampled from five locations in the Northwest Atlantic and Arctic for heavy metal and selenium residue analyses in tissue. Significant loading was apparent only in blood, brain, kidney, liver and muscle. Samples were analysed for mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The seals carried higher levels of Cd than of the other metals. Residue levels of Cd were highest in kidney tissue; levels of other metals were highest in liver. Both males and females bioaccumulated Cd, Hg and Se. Cd, Hg, Se and Cu residues were detected in tissue from neonatal seals, indicating that transplacental and transmammary transfer of these elements had occurred. Despite the passage of residues from mother to pup, females bore significantly higher levels of Hg and Cd than males. Conversely, levels of Cu, Se or Pb did not appear to differ significantly between sexes. There was considerable individual variation in residue levels. This, coupled with the extensive annual migration undergone by these animals, made it difficult to arrive at definite conclusions regarding geographic accumulation patterns.