METAL ACCUMULATION IN TISSUES OF SEABIRDS FROM CHAUN, NORTHEAST SIBERIA, RUSSIA

Concentrations of four essential elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) and two toxic metals (Cd and Hg) were determined in selected tissues of 11 se abird species collected in Chaun, northeast Siberia. In oldsquaw, arct ic tern and herring gull, zinc concentrations were correlated with Cd concentrations. Cadmium concentrations in all the species were highest in kidney and Hg in liver. Cd levels in the liver and kidney of herri ng gulls were higher than those observed from other breeding areas. Si milarly, Hg concentrations were also high in the liver of herring gull . High concentrations of Cd and Hg found in some birds from Chaun migh t have arisen from exposure on migration. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd