Methylmercury and total mercury in tissues of arctic marine mammals

Concentrations of methylmercury, total mercury and selenium in marine mammal tissues were determined in liver, muscle, skin (muktuk) and blubber of belugas, ringed seals and narwhal, using atomic absorption and capillary gas chromatography with ECD detection. Mean MeHg levels in the types of tissues analysed, except blubber, generally exceeded the Canadian Federal Consumption Guideline for mercury in fish (0.5 micrograms/g wet wt.). A spatial trend of higher MeHg levels in western compared to eastern Arctic belugas and ringed seals was found which followed a similar trend observed for total mercury. Factors which could explain this trend are discussed. Robust linear regression of MeHg on total Hg and MeHg on age of animals was performed and a strong correlation between the two variables was found in each case. The ratio of MeHg to total mercury as indicated by the regression coefficients was close to one for muscle and skin (muktuk) while for liver it was < 1. The mean percentage of MeHg in the liver of marine mammals was 3-12% of the total Hg in this tissue depending on species and location. It is postulated that the formation and deposition of mercuric selenide in the liver is part of the demethylation process in this tissue. This is based on the relatively low fraction of MeHg in the liver not withstanding the fact that the predominant form of mercury taken up via food is MeHg. The long half-life for total mercury and the relatively short half-life for MeHg in this organ are in accord with this postulate as is the 1:1 stoichiometric relationship between mercury and selenium in the liver.