WP12 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(KAN-1118-073394) Accumulation of Metals in Southern Sea Otters.

Kannan, K. ¹, Agusa, T.², Perrotta, E.¹, Thomas, N.³, Tanabe, S.², ¹ Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA² Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan³ U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Helath Center, Madison, WI, USA

ABSTRACT- Hepatic concentrations of twenty-one metals including mercury, lead and cadmium were analyzed in diseased and non-diseased southern sea otters (n=85) collected in central California coast from 1988-2002 using ICP-MS. Concentrations of copper and cadmium were unusually high and greater than those reported for marine mammals from other locations. Hepatic cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.002 to 728 (mean: 92) ug/g, dry wt, whereas concentrations of copper ranged from 26 to 401 (mean: 133) ug/g, dry wt. Concentrations of mercury were relatively high and ranged from 0.48 to 128 (mean: 18) ug/g, dry wt. Concentrations of lead and other metals were relatively low. Concentrations of metals in diseased and non-diseased adult female sea otters were compared to describe the association between exposure to toxic metals and diseases in sea otters.

Key words: sea otter, metal, mercury, cadmium