Kinetics, dose-response, and excretion of methylmercury in free-living adult Cory's shearwaters

Monteiro, L.R. and Furness, R.W. (2001) Kinetics, dose-response, and excretion of methylmercury in free-living adult Cory's shearwaters. Environmental Science and Technology, 35(4), pp. 739-746. (doi: 10.1021/es000114a)

Abstract

We evaluated methylmercury (MHg) kinetics, dose-responses, and excretion in free-living adult Cory's shearwaters using a nondestructive multi-tissue approach. Elimination of MHg in blood comprised an initial fast phase, with half-time of 1 d, and a slow terminal phase with half-time between 44 and 65 d. Molt was a crucial factor in determining the rate of MHg elimination. Half-times were independent of dose. A relationship between steady-state blood concentrations and dietary intake of MHS was derived. Ratios between Hg concentrations in eggs or hatchlings' plumage and parental blood were independent of dose, with tissue-blood partition coefficients identical to those in controls. Dose-response relationships were linear. Females were subjected to Hg concentrations 18% higher than males but exhibited a 10% lower dose-response in blood. The difference is not fully accounted for by excretion into the egg and may be due to unidentified sex-related differences in physiology. Excretion rates into plumage showed no dose dependency but were higher (33% of intake) in birds exposed during molt than in birds dosed 2 months before the start of molt. Hg excretion through the skin in exfoliated epidermal cells that adsorb into plumage was estimated, to represent 8% of the intake. The results of this study may be used in advanced modeling of the kinetics of MHg in adult birds to fill the current gap of a bioenergetic model for avian exposure to MHg

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Furness, Professor Robert
• Authors: Monteiro, L.R., and Furness, R.W.
• Subjects: Q Science > QL Zoology; G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology
• Journal Abbr.: EST
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0013-936X
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5851