Total mercury level in tissues of commercial mammalian species (wild boar, moose) of the Russky Sever National Park (North-West of Russia)

Cherepovets State Universitу, Biology Department, 162600, 5 Lunacharsky Pr., Cherepovets, Vologda region, Russia

^* Corresponding author: khabarovals@yandex.ru

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of mercury in the food chain can pose a threat to human health. Therefore, in our article, we obtained data on the concentrations of mercury in the tissues of wild animals, which are a food resource for humans. We determined the mercury concentrations in liver, kidneys, muscles and hair of wild boar and moose, which are consumed by the population of the Russky Sever National Park. The average mercury concentrations in moose tissues ranged from 0.004 mg / kg wet weight in muscles to 0.079 mg / kg wet weight in kidneys. The average concentrations of mercury in boar tissues ranged from 0.136 mg / kg wet weight in wool to 0.711 mg / kg wet weight in kidneys. The main trends of mercury bioaccumulation in the tissues of moose and wild boar were determined.