MERCURY, CADMIUM, ZINC, COPPER AND SELENIUM IN HARBOR PORPOISE (PHOCOENA-PHOCOENA) FROM WEST GREENLAND

Muscle, liver, kidney and skin samples taken from 78 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were analysed for mercury, cadmium, zinc, copper and selenium. The highest concentrations of mercury were found in the liver (geometric mean 4.17 mug/g wet weight), whilst the highest concentrations of cadmium were in the kidney (g.m. 13.2 mug/g ww). The levels of cadmium were more than ten times higher than in harbour porpoises from the North Sea and the British NW coast, whilst the mercury levels were about the same. The 'importance of the cadmium content in the prey is discussed, but this attempt did not revealed the differences. Very high levels of zinc (g.m. 359 mug/g ww) and selenium (g.m. 28.6 mug/g ww) were found in skin samples, respectively seven and ten times more than in liver. A significant correlation was found between age and the level of mercury and cadmium in all organs. The concentration of mercury and selenium in liver and skin samples and of cadmium and zinc in kidney samples were highly correlated.