Mercury in Liver, Kidney, Feather and Muscle of Seabirds from Major Wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran

Concentration of mercury in tissues of the great cormorant (n = 18), mallard (n = 18), and coot (n = 15) of the Caspian Sea were determined. Liver mercury in the great cormorant, mallard, and coot were (5.7 +/- A 0.91; 0.3 +/- A 0.02; 0.09 +/- A 0.02). Kidney levels were (3.6 +/- A 2.24; 0.26 +/- A 0.03; 0.08 +/- A 0.02); feather (8.7 +/- A 0.8; 1.04 +/- A 0.16; 0.23 +/- A 0.15) and muscle were (2.26 +/- A 2.04; 0.11 +/- A 0.01; 0.03 +/- A 0.02) respectively. Mercury Tolerable Daily Intake limit is set at 5 mu g g(-1). But even at levels that are currently considered tolerable, mercury poisoning can occur in children and young who consume polluted game meat regularly.