Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis, Van Benédén 1864) as Indicators of the Bioaccumulation of Total Mercury along the Coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2012, Vol.88 (1), p.54-59
• Main Authors: de Moura, Jailson Fulgencio, Hacon, Sandra de Souza, Vega, Claudia Maribel, Hauser-Davis, Rachel Ann, de Campos, Reinaldo Calixto, Siciliano, Salvatore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic mammals; Aquatic Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Brazil; Coastal environments; Dolphins; Dolphins & porpoises; Dolphins - metabolism; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Female; Females; Freshwater; Male; Males; Marine; Mercury; Mercury - metabolism; Muscles; Muscles - metabolism; Pollution; Rio de Janeiro; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollution Control; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-011-0448-z

Total mercury (Hg) was determined in muscle tissue of 20 Guiana dolphins stranded along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with a mean of 1.07 μg/g wet weight. Mercury concentrations were positively related to body length, possibly related to the capacity of the dolphins to bioaccumulate this element throughout life. The Hg concentrations were not significantly different between males and females, although females (1.08 μg/g) showed slightly higher levels than males (1.04 μg/g). Concentrations were low when compared to results of studies carried out with small cetaceans in the Northern Hemisphere, and with previous studies in the Southeastern Brazil.