Fcw. Rosas et Kk. Lehti, NUTRITIONAL AND MERCURY CONTENT OF MILK OF THE AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN, INIA-GEOFFRENSIS, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Physiology, 115(2), 1996, pp. 117-119
The fat, protein, copper, iron, zinc, aluminium, magnesium, manganese,
calcium, sodium, potassium, vitamin A and mercury contents were deter
mined in the milk of a lactating Amazon river dolpin (Inia geoffrensis
), caught in the Amazon River near Manaus, Brazil. The fat content det
ermined in this study (6.9%) was lower than that reported previously f
or Inia in Venezuela, and for some captive marine dolphins. The protei
n concentration (9.6%) was higher than that reported for the Venezuela
n Amazon river dolpin, but similar to that of the marine dolphins. Con
cerning the minerals, only calcium, manganese, sodium and potassium co
uld be compared. The Mg and Ca concentrations were lower, but K was mu
ch higher than the values determined for other dolphins, whereas Na wa
s within the reported ranges. The mercury concentration found in the d
olphin's milk (176 ng/ml) was very close to the minimum level of methy
lmercury toxicity for non-pregnant human adults.