During 1992, mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations were determined
from livers of Juan Fernandez fur seals (27 pups, one subadult, and on
e adult) found dead at Alejandro Selkirk Island, Chile, In pups, conce
ntrations of mercury, cadmium and lead averaged 9.33 mg kg(-1) (SD 6.5
6), 0.51 mg kg(-1) (SD. 0.19) and 0.47 mg kg(-1) (SD = 0.43), respecti
vely, In the subadult and adult, concentrations of mercury were 27.29
and 75.09 mg/kg; of cadmium 1.66 and 1.57 mg kg(-1); and of lead 0.07
and 1.37 mg kg(-1), respectively. Possible sources of contamination wi
th these metals are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.