Open AccessEcological aspects of mercury--selenium interactions in the marine environment.
Author(s) -
Karlin Beijer,
Arne Jernelöv
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.782543
Subject(s) - biomagnification , mercury (programming language) , selenium , food chain , methylmercury , environmental chemistry , marine ecosystem , ecosystem , population , ecology , biology , bioaccumulation , chemistry , environmental health , medicine , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
In the marine environment, mercury is accompanied by selenium in all investigated species of mammals, birds, and fish--possibly due to a normal homeostatic regulation. It therefore seems likely that selenium will exert its protective action against mercury toxicity in the marine environment, decreasing its detrimental effects on reproduction, behavior, growth, etc. of the organisms and thus protect the population and ecosystem. On the other hand, the increased retention of mercury caused by selenium may lead to a higher level of biomagnification in the food chain and a higher burden in the individual. This might counteract the positive effect of decreased intoxication.