Trace elements intake in the Faroe Islands I. Element levels in edible parts of pilot whales (Globicephalus meleanus)

doi:10.1016/0048-9697(87)90160-4

Science of The Total Environment

Volume 65, September 1987, Pages 53-62

https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(87)90160-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

We examined the distribution of copper, zinc, selenium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury (total and methyl mercury) in samples of muscle, liver, kidney and blubber from pilot whales (Globicephalus meleanus) caught off the Faroe Islands in 1977 and 1978. The very high total mercury level in the mature pilot whale exhibited differences among tissues and was highest in the liver. The total mercury concentration increased with body size. With increasing body size the ratio of methyl mercury to total mercury was relatively constant in muscle and kidney, but it decreased in liver.

The concentrations of total mercury in the tissues of immature whales were much lower than those of mature whales.

Selenium levels increased with body size. Significant correlation coefficients were found between the total mercury and selenium in liver and kidney. Selenium was present in the kidney in molar excess relative to mercury, whereas the opposite was the case in the muscle tissue.

High cadmium contents were found in kidney and liver. In muscle and liver no significant correlations were found between cadmium and selenium, but a weak correlation between these elements was recorded in the kidney.

References (19)

A. Andersen et al.
Trace elements intake in the Faroe Islands. II. Intake of mercury and other elements by consumption of pilot whales (Globicephalus meleanus)
Sci. Total Environ.
(1987)
K. Julshamn et al.
Subcellular distribution of major and minor elements in unexposed molluscs in Western Norway. I. The distribution and binding of cadmium, zinc and copper in the liver and the digestion system of the oyster (Ostrea edulis)
Comp. Biochem. Physiol.
(1983)
K. Julshamn et al.
Optimization of the determination of selenium in marine samples by atomic absorption system with a hydride generation atomic absorption system
Spectrochim. Acta
(1982)
S. Arima et al.
Mercury and selenium content of Odontoceti
Bull. Jpn Soc. Sci. Fish.
(1979)
S.S. Berman
ICES seventh round intercalibration for trace metals in biological tissue
ICES 7/TM/BT (Part 1). Preliminary report
(1984)
E. Egaas et al.
A method for determination of selenium and mercury in fish products using the same digestion procedure
At. Absorpt. Newsl.
(1978)
D.E. Gaskin et al.
Mercury, DDT, Dieldrin and PCB in two species of odontoceti (Cetacea) from St. Lucia, Lesser Antilles
J. Fish. Res. Board Can.
(1974)
D.E. Gaskin et al.
Changes in mercury levels in harbor porpoises from the bay of Fundy, Canada, and adjacent waters during 1969–1977
Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.
(1979)
K. Hoydal
Attempts to use the 274 years' Faroese time series of catches of Pilot Whales (Globicephala meleana, Traill) to assess the state of the stock
ICES CM 1986 IN
(1986)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (115)

Maternal seafood consumption is associated with improved selenium status: Implications for child health
2024, NeuroToxicology
Selenium (Se) is required for synthesis of selenocysteine (Sec), an amino acid expressed in the active sites of Se-dependent enzymes (selenoenzymes), including forms with essential functions in fetal development, brain activities, thyroid hormone metabolism, calcium regulation, and to prevent or reverse oxidative damage. Homeostatic mechanisms normally ensure the brain is preferentially supplied with Se to maintain selenoenzymes, but high methylmercury (CH₃Hg) exposures irreversibly inhibit their activities and impair Sec synthesis. Due to Hg’s high affinity for sulfur, CH₃Hg initially binds with the cysteine (Cys) moieties of thiomolecules which are selenoenzyme substrates. These CH₃Hg-Cys adducts enter selenoenzyme active sites and transfer CH₃Hg to Sec, thus irreversibly inhibiting their activities. High CH₃Hg exposures are uniquely able to induce a conditioned Se-deficiency that impairs synthesis of brain selenoenzymes. Since the fetal brain lacks Se reserves, it is far more vulnerable to CH₃Hg exposures than adult brains. This prompted concerns that maternal exposures to CH₃Hg present in seafood might impair child neurodevelopment. However, typical varieties of ocean fish contain far more Se than CH₃Hg. Therefore, eating them should augment Se-status and thus prevent Hg-dependent loss of fetal selenoenzyme activities. To assess this hypothesis, umbilical cord blood and placental tissue samples were collected following delivery of a cohort of 100 babies born on Oahu, Hawaii. Dietary food frequency surveys of the mother’s last month of pregnancy identified groups with no (0 g/wk), low (0–12 g/wk), or high (12 + g/wk) levels of ocean fish consumption. Maternal seafood consumption increased Hg contents in fetal tissues and resulted in ∼34% of cord blood samples exceeding the EPA Hg reference level of 5.8 ppb (0.029 µM). However, Se concentrations in these tissues were orders of magnitude higher and ocean fish consumption caused cord blood Se to increase ∼9.4 times faster than Hg. Therefore, this study supports the hypothesis that maternal consumption of typical varieties of ocean fish provides substantial amounts of Se that protect against Hg-dependent losses in Se bioavailability. Recognizing the pivotal nature of the Hg:Se relationship provides a consilient perspective of seafood benefits vs. risks and clarifies the reasons for the contrasting findings of certain early studies.
Relationship of mercury and selenium in ocean fish frequently consumed in the Seychelles: A comparison to levels in ocean fish consumed in the US
2023, NeuroToxicology
We characterized mercury and selenium in the fish consumed in the Seychelles Islands to determine if their levels are similar to fish consumed in the US. A secondary aim was to examine whether fish weight and species predict mercury and selenium in fish consumed in the Seychelles. We measured total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se) content of 10 samples from each of the 19 most frequently consumed fish species in Seychelles and for each calculated the Se:Hg molar ratios and the Selenium Health Benefit Value Index (HBV Se). Linear regression models examined associations with weight and species. Average MeHg levels in fish ranged from less than 0.01 ppm (streamlined spinefoot) to 0.7 ppm (bludger trevally) with an overall mean of 0.21 ± 0.23 ppm. Average Se levels ranged from 0.34 ppm (blue-barred parrot fish) to 0.93 ppm (blue-lined large-eye bream) with a mean of 0.54 ± 0.23 ppm. All fish species had a mean Se:Hg molar ratio > 1 and positive mean HBV Se index values. Weight was strongly predictive of MeHg and Se:Hg molar ratio, both across and within most species, but was less predictive of Se and HBV Se. Our study demonstrated that fish consumed in Seychelles have mercury and selenium content similar to that of fish consumed in the US. Fish in both countries have favorable positive values for Se:Hg molar ratios and HBV Se indexes. Because mercury and selenium concentrations in fish are similar to those in the US but fish consumption is substantially higher in Seychelles, the Seychellois make an ideal population in which to determine if there are adverse effects of prenatal, postnatal, and lifetime low dose MeHg exposure from fish consumption.
Emerging and legacy contaminants in common minke whale from the Barents sea
2023, Environmental Pollution
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including brominated flame retardants (BFRs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals, can accumulate in marine mammals and be transferred to offspring. In this study, we analyzed 64 lipophilic POPs, including four emerging BFRs, in the blubber, liver and muscle of 17 adult common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from the Barents Sea to investigate occurrence and tissue partitioning. In addition, the placental transfer concentration ratios of 14 PFAS and 17 metals were quantified in the muscle of nine female-fetus pairs to investigate placental transfer. Legacy lipophilic POPs were the dominating compound group in every tissue, and we observed generally lower levels compared to previous studies from 1992 to 2001. We detected the emerging BFRs hexabromobenzene (HBB) and pentabromotoluene (PBT), but in low levels compared to the legacy POPs. We detected nine PFAS, and levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were higher than detected from the same population in 2011, whilst levels of Hg were comparable to 2011. Levels of lipophilic contaminants were higher in blubber compared to muscle and liver on both a wet weight and lipid adjusted basis, but tissue partitioning of the emerging BFRs could not be determined due to the high number of samples below the limit of detection. The highest muscle ΣPFAS levels were quantified in fetuses (23 ± 8.7 ng/g ww), followed by adult males (7.2 ± 2.0 ng/gg ww) and adult females (4.5 ± 1.1 ng/g ww), showing substantial placental transfer from mother to fetus. In contrast, Hg levels in the fetus were lower than the mother. Levels were under thresholds for risk of health effects in the whales. This study is the first to report occurrence and placental transfer of emerging contaminants in common minke whales from the Barents Sea, contributing valuable new data on pollutant levels in Arctic wildlife.
Versatility of filamentous fungi in novel processes
2022, Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Filamentous Fungi Biorefinery
There has been a growing interest in establishing biorefinery for the valorization of agro-industrial wastes. Every year, enormous agro-industrial waste such as fruit waste, fish waste, and oil waste is generated. These wastes are rich in various nutrients that make them very susceptible to biological decay, but without proper handling, they can cause serious environmental problems. Since filamentous fungi can utilize a large variety of substrates while producing multiple valuable products, they have been extensively researched to valorize agro-industrial wastes. In this chapter, the generation, composition, and valorization of eight different wastes have been discussed. Furthermore, cultivation of various filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus sp., Rhizopus sp., and Penicillium sp. on these wastes and the variety of obtained products have been investigated.
Mercury: selenium interactions and health implications
2020, NeuroToxicology
Measuring the amount of mercury present in the environment or food sources may provide an inadequate reflection of the potential for health risks if the protective effects of selenium are not also considered. Selenium's involvement is apparent throughout the mercury cycle, influencing its transport, biogeochemical exposure, bioavailability, toxicological consequences, and remediation. Likewise, numerous studies indicate that selenium, present in many foods (including fish), protects against mercury exposure. Studies have also shown mercury exposure reduces the activity of selenium dependent enzymes. While seemingly distinct, these concepts may actually be complementary perspectives of the mercury-selenium binding interaction. Owing to the extremely high affinity between mercury and selenium, selenium sequesters mercury and reduces its biological availability. It is obvious that the converse is also true; as a result of the high affinity complexes formed, mercury sequesters selenium. This is important because selenium is required for normal activity of numerous selenium dependent enzymes. Through diversion of selenium into formation of insoluble mercury-selenides, mercury may inhibit the formation of selenium dependent enzymes while supplemental selenium supports their continued synthesis. Further research into mercury-selenium interactions will help us understand the consequences of mercury exposure and identify populations which may be protected or at greater risk to mercury's toxic effects.
Human mercury exposure levels and fish consumption at the French Riviera
2020, Chemosphere
Humans are exposed to methylmercury (MeHg), a bioaccumulative neurotoxin, mainly through the consumption of marine fish. Several studies showed that high MeHg exposure can lead to neurological damage. This is particularly relevant for pregnant women, because MeHg exposure negatively impacts foetal development. Populations living near the sea are generally at increased exposure risk due to higher consumption of fish and seafood. Here, we present the first study of MeHg exposure levels of the population living at the French Riviera, using mercury (Hg) concentrations in hair as a proxy for MeHg exposure. We found that older people that consume more fish presented the highest hair Hg concentrations. Compared to other Mediterranean bordering countries and other European countries, the southern France population is among those with high MeHg exposure (median for women of childbearing age is 0.56 μg g⁻¹). A global implementation of the Minamata Convention is necessary to lower MeHg exposure of the population.

View all citing articles on Scopus

^∗∗: Present address: Danish Society for Nature Conservation, Nørregade 2, DK-1165 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

View full text

Article preview

Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

References (19)

Trace elements intake in the Faroe Islands. II. Intake of mercury and other elements by consumption of pilot whales (Globicephalus meleanus)

Sci. Total Environ.

Subcellular distribution of major and minor elements in unexposed molluscs in Western Norway. I. The distribution and binding of cadmium, zinc and copper in the liver and the digestion system of the oyster (Ostrea edulis)

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

Optimization of the determination of selenium in marine samples by atomic absorption system with a hydride generation atomic absorption system

Spectrochim. Acta

Mercury and selenium content of Odontoceti

Bull. Jpn Soc. Sci. Fish.

ICES seventh round intercalibration for trace metals in biological tissue

ICES 7/TM/BT (Part 1). Preliminary report

A method for determination of selenium and mercury in fish products using the same digestion procedure

At. Absorpt. Newsl.

Mercury, DDT, Dieldrin and PCB in two species of odontoceti (Cetacea) from St. Lucia, Lesser Antilles

J. Fish. Res. Board Can.

Changes in mercury levels in harbor porpoises from the bay of Fundy, Canada, and adjacent waters during 1969–1977

Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.

Attempts to use the 274 years' Faroese time series of catches of Pilot Whales (Globicephala meleana, Traill) to assess the state of the stock

ICES CM 1986 IN

Cited by (115)

Maternal seafood consumption is associated with improved selenium status: Implications for child health

Relationship of mercury and selenium in ocean fish frequently consumed in the Seychelles: A comparison to levels in ocean fish consumed in the US

Emerging and legacy contaminants in common minke whale from the Barents sea

Versatility of filamentous fungi in novel processes

Mercury: selenium interactions and health implications

Human mercury exposure levels and fish consumption at the French Riviera