Mercury and Selenium Levels at the Fetal and Suckling Stages of Striped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba

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The concentrations of mercury and selenium in thirteen tissues of the fetuses and sucklings of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) were examined. A large portion of the mercury in the fetuses and sucklings was present in the methylated form. The total mercury level in the liver of the fetuses was slightly higher than in the other tissues. In halfofthe tissues, the total mercury levels were lower in the sucklings than in the fetuses. Although the selenium level in the fetuses was the highest in the liver, that in the sucklings was slightly higher in the blubber than in other tissues. In most tissues, the selenium level at the suckling stage was higher than at the fetal stage. A highly significant correlation was detected between the total mercury and selenium burdens in the fetuses. Linear relationships were observed between the body weight and total mercury burden and between the body weight and selenium burden of fetuses. The total burden of methylmercury in the term fetuses was around 1%of those in the pregnant females. The mercury contents of fetuses appear not to be affected by those of their mothers.
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