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Distribution of mercury and selenium in blood compartments of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) from Sarasota Bay, Florida
Author(s) -
Correa Lucero,
Castellini J. Margaret,
Wells Randall S.,
O'Hara Todd
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2327
Subject(s) - selenium , whole blood , chemistry , blood plasma , toxicokinetics , mercury (programming language) , hematocrit , blood proteins , red blood cell , population , zoology , environmental chemistry , biology , endocrinology , immunology , biochemistry , metabolism , medicine , environmental health , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Abstract Total mercury and selenium concentrations ([THg], [Se]) in serum, plasma, whole blood, and packed cells were examined in a resident population of free‐ranging bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) from Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA. The authors determined how these elements partition in blood and assess compartment‐specific associations. Determining the distribution of Se and THg can provide physiologic insight into potential association of Hg with selenol‐containing biomolecules (e.g., antioxidants) in blood compartments. Concentrations of THg were ranked serum < plasma < whole blood < packed cells; whereas for Se concentrations, plasma < serum < whole blood < packed cells. The Se:THg molar ratio was greater than 1 in all compartments, with the higher ratios found in serum and plasma (plasma < serum) and the lower in whole blood and packed cells (packed cells < whole blood). Age was positively correlated with [THg] in all blood compartments and with [Se] in serum, plasma, and whole blood. Age was negatively correlated with Se:THg molar ratios in all blood compartments, driven by low [THg] in young animals. Although [THg] was highly correlated among all blood compartments, this was not the case for [Se]. The feasibility of calculating packed cell [THg], [Se], and Se:THg molar ratios using hematocrit measurements in combination with whole blood and plasma [THg] and [Se] was validated, allowing routine assessment of compartmentalization within erythrocytes using standard clinical measurements. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2441–2448. © 2013 SETAC