Trace elements in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence

We measured baseline levels of 19 trace element and mercury speciation for grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL), Quebec, Canada. With interest growing in commercializing grey seal products for human consumption in this region, the goal of this study was to measure essential and non-essential trace elements in grey seals to evaluate health concerns and nutritional benefits. From 2015 to 2019, 120 grey seals were sampled by hunters and researchers at 4 sites in the GSL. Muscle, liver, heart and kidney samples were analyzed for 10 non-essential elements (Sb, As, Be, B, Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Tl, Sn) and 9 essential elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn). Both total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were analysed for a subset of samples. Many elements were undetected in liver (Sb, As, Be, B, Cr, Co, Pb, Ni, Tl, Sn) and muscle tissues (same, plus Cd, Mn, Mo). Results showed lower element concentrations in the muscle (Fe, Mg, Se) and livers (Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Mo, Se) of young-of-the-year harvested in the winter ( View larger version (39K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ad9ea6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8adf1borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13d992eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@113c8c7_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG