Mercury and methyl mercury ratios in caimans (Caiman crocodilus yacare) from the Pantanal area, Brazil.
J Environ Monit
; 13(2): 280-7, 2011 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21103509
ABSTRACT
The Pantanal region is the largest floodplain area in the world and of great biological importance due to its unique flora and fauna. This area is continuously undergoing increasing anthropogenic threats, and has also experienced mercury contamination associated with gold mining and other anthropogenic activities. Pantanal caimans are top-level predators, and, as such, show great potential to accumulate mercury (Hg) by biomagnification. In this study 79 specimens from four locations in the Pantanal were analyzed for total Hg and methyl mercury (MeHg) by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Total Hg contents ranged from 0.02 to 0.36 µg g(-1) (ww), and most specimens presented MeHg ratios above 70%. One of the sites, impacted by anthropogenic activities, presented significantly higher total Hg in comparison to three less impacted sites, supporting the hypothesis that caimans can, in fact, be considered effective bioindicators of ecosystem health.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
/
Caimanes y Cocodrilos
/
Mercurio
/
Compuestos de Metilmercurio
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Environ Monit
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Brasil