Two Decades of Mercury Concentrations in Barents Sea Polar Bears () in Relation to Dietary Carbon, Sulfur, and Nitrogen.

Temporal trends of total mercury (THg) were examined in female polar bear () hair ( = 199) from the Barents Sea in 1995-2016. In addition, hair values of stable isotopes ( = 190-197) of carbon (δC), sulfur (δS), and nitrogen (δN) and information on breeding status, body condition, and age were obtained. Stable isotope values of carbon and sulfur reflect dietary source (e.

What are the toxicological effects of mercury in Arctic biota?

This review critically evaluates the available mercury (Hg) data in Arctic marine biota and the Inuit population against toxicity threshold values. In particular marine top predators exhibit concentrations of mercury in their tissues and organs that are believed to exceed thresholds for biological effects. Species whose concentrations exceed threshold values include the polar bears (Ursus maritimus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), pilot whale (Globicephala melas), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a few seabird species, and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus).

Temporal trend of mercury in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard using teeth as a biomonitoring tissue.

We examined the use of mercury (Hg) and nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes in teeth of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard as biotracers of temporal changes in Hg pollution exposure between 1964 and 2003. Teeth were regarded as a good matrix of the Hg exposure, and in total 87 teeth of polar bears were analysed. Dental Hg levels ranged from 0.

An evaluation of teeth of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Greenland as a matrix to monitor spatial and temporal trends of mercury and stable isotopes.

Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were measured in teeth of ringed seals from Qeqertarsuaq, central West Greenland (1982 to 2006) and Ittoqqortoormiit, central East Greenland (1986 to 2006). Stable isotopic ratios of carbon ((13)C/(12)C) and nitrogen ((15)N/(14)N) were determined as well to provide insights into diet variations between regions or through time. Mercury concentrations decreased the first years of life of the animals suggesting that Hg had been transferred from the mother to the foetus and newborn.

Exposure to mercury reduces cold tolerance in the springtail Folsomia candida.

We investigated how mercury (Hg) as an example of a widespread pollutant, can influence the tolerance of low temperature stress in the springtail, Folsomia candida. Springtails were exposed to aqueous solutions with a range of concentrations of HgCl2 and subsequently exposed to a range of low temperatures (cold shock) in order to model the dose-response surface (using survival as toxicity parameter). The data fitted a multiplicative model well (R2=0.