CONTENT OF MERCURY IN ORGANS AND TISSUES OF CASPIAN SEAL (PHOCA CASPICA, GMELIN, 1788)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the level of mercury accumulation in organs and tissues of Caspian seals of different ages.Methods. Determination of mercury in the organs and tissues of the seals has been performed on atomic absorption spectrometry RA -915+ with RP-91s station.Results. Comparative analysis of the concentrations of mercury in the bodies of different aged Caspian seals has showed similarities in their distribution. Mercury concentrations in the liver and kidneys are higher than in other organs. The level of mercury accumulation in the liver exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) in all age groups, increasing with age. In all investigated groups mercury concentration was lowest in the subcutaneous fat of animals. The correlation analysis has demonstrated a high degree of similarity in the accumulation of mercury in organs and tissues of seal pups aged 1-7 years and seals aged 7-12 and 12-17 years. In a comparative analysis, we have observed strong positive relationship between the concentration of mercury in the liver and morphological characteristics, such as age, weight, height, girth of the trunk and the thickness of subcutaneous fat.Main conclusions. The obtained data indicate different ways of mercury accumulation in organs and tissues of the body of the Caspian seal, which depend on their features and characteristics of the metal. The main route of mercury compounds in the body of animals is alimentary. Therefore, the maximum mercury accumulation can be seen in the liver and kidneys, which is a barrier to the penetration of a significant amount of mercury in other organs and tissues of Caspian seals.

Keywords

• каспийский тюлень
• ртуть
• печень
• почки
• аккумуляция