Abstract:
We conducted a study to screen mercury (Hg) level in the Caspian
Sea common cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) to determine the biological
behavior of this element and to assess the exposure of wild fish-eating
birds, which are a bioindicator to this pollutant. Mercury concentration
was measured in liver, kidney, muscle and feathers. The mean concentration
of mercury was 8.32±1.32, 9.25±1.71, 2.064±0.22 and
4.44±0.3 ppm in liver, kidney, muscles and feathers respectively.
Hg concentration was highest in the kidney and liver (p<0.01). The
amount of mercury accumulation obtained was as follows: Liver ≈
Kidneys > Feathers > Muscles. Hg concentration in the liver and
muscle increased significantly with growth from juvenile to adult (p<0.05).
Comparison of Hg concentration between males and females indicated that
Hg concentration in the muscle (p<0.05) and kidney (p<0.01) was
significantly different.
Sohrab Mazloomi, Abbas Esmaeili, Seyed Mahmood Ghasempoori and Arash Omidi, 2008. Mercury Distribution in Liver, Kidney, Muscle and Feathers of Caspian Sea Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2: 433-437.
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