Mercury and selenium concentrations study on Macronectes Giganteus feathers by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) is a seabird species, from the Procelariiformes order. It has circumpolar distribution and can travel great distances from its breeding area to foraging areas, its diet is composed of fish, squid, crustaceans, carcasses of marine mammals and other birds. It is known that through food or environmental contamination any organism can assimilate different chemical elements. Some chemical elements are essential to metabolism, but some have no function and may end up causing adverse effects, such as Hg, which is considered one of the most toxic contaminants in the environment. The accumulation of Hg is a great danger due to the high potential of toxicity and transference capacity to the trophic web through bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes. Hg can affect the nervous, circulatory and endocrine systems, behavior, reproduction and embryo, in addiction, high concentrations can cause death. Due to the high toxicity of Hg and few studies about toxic elements in Southern Giant Petrel, this study aimed to quantify Hg in feathers of this seabird. The feathers were chosen for analysis because they can be collected without the need to sacrifice the birds. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was used for Hg and Se quantification. Hg concentrations ranging between 2.6 and 10.4 mg kg-1 and Se between 1.5 and 10.4 mg kg-1.