BIOACCUMULATION OF VANADIUM AND OTHER TRACE-METALS IN LIVERS OF ALASKAN CETACEANS AND PINNIPEDS

Concentrations for 38 elements are routinely measured in the marine ma mmal liver tissues archived in the National Biomonitoring Specimen Ban k (NBSB). Results show that hepatic concentrations of vanadium, seleni um, silver, cadmium, and mercury are positively correlated with age fo r beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and of vanadium, selenium, cad mium, and mercury with length for ringed seals (Phoca hispada). Many r esearchers have reported linear correlations of hepatic selenium, cadm ium, and mercury with marine mammal age; however, there is only one ot her report of a linear correlation of hepatic vanadium with marine mam mal age. Vanadium levels are at or below detection limits (less than o r equal to 0.01 mu g/g) in liver tissues of U.S. east coast marine mam mals from the NBSB but are present at levels ranging from 0.02 to 1.2 mu g/g of wet weight in the tissues of Alaskan marine mammals. Althoug h only three bearded seal (Eriganthus barbatus) and three bowhead whal e (Balaena mysticetus) liver samples have been analyzed, hepatic vanad ium levels also increased with animal size for these species. The pres ence of relatively high levels of vanadium in the livers of these Alas kan animals may reflect a unique dietary source of vanadium, a unique geochemical source of vanadium, or anthropogenic input to the Alaskan marine environment.