Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2005, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (1-English): 33-40.

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Preliminary investigation of mercury in bone tissues of skua and penguin in Antarctica using AFS and Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence (SR-XRF)

 Xie Zhouqing1, Cheng Bangbo1, Sun Liguang1, Huang Yuying2 and He Wei2   

  1. 1 Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China;
    2 Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China     
  • Online:1955-03-30 Published:1955-03-30
  • Contact: Xie Zhouqing

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Abstract:

Mercury (Hg) was investigated in bone tissues of skua (Catharacta maccormick)and penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) collected in the maritime Antarctic using atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) method. The total levels of mercury in bone tissues of penguin and skua are much lower than those in other organs(e.g., kidney,liver). The toxic effects of mercury in bone tissues of seabirds in polar region are not known. We have used SR- XRF method to map the distribution of trace levels of mercury in bones. The levels of mercury are found to be enriched somewhere near the periosteal surface and/or endos- teal surface. The distribution of mercury shows strongly correlation with that of some essential elements and probably poses negative effect on the bone metabolism inferring from the relationship of mercury with the other elements. These studies represent a first step toward understanding the toxic effects of mercury on bone of polar animals by suggesting the possible microscopic investigation.

Key words: mercury, bone, skua, penguin, Antarctic, microscopic, SR-XRF