Trace Element Concentrations in Bearded Seals (Erignathus barbatus) Near Red Dog Mine Compared to Other Locations in Alaska

Table 3

Comparisons of element concentrations in liver of bearded seals between this and other studies. Concentration units are μg/g wet weight and are summarized as the arithmetic mean and standard deviation for comparison with other studies. Mackey et al. [14] and Becker et al. [13] used the same samples from the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project. We present the results of Mackey et al. [14] except when Becker et al. [13] provide data on different elements.

Element	Location	Year	Liver mean (SD)	n	Mean age (yrs)	Reference
			𝜇g/g wet weight
As	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	0.161–0.577^(1)	3	—	[13]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	0.41 (0.32)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	0.58 (0.29)	9	11.2
Cd	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	0.99–2.00^(1)	3	—	[14]
	Pt. Barrow, Alaska	1998–2001	8.66 (7.03)	38	—	[19]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	7.12 (11.16)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	5.24 (3.00)	9	11.2
Cu	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	6.82–34.44^(1)	3	—	[13]
	Pt. Barrow, Alaska	1998–2001	22.69 (7.99)	38	—	[19]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	24.65 (12.12)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	40.71 (13.80)	9	11.2
Hg	Holman, western Canada	1973	143.00 (170.00)	6	8.5	[39, 40]
	Belcher island, eastern Canada	1974	26.18 (26.13)	56	4.9	[40]
	Alaska	—	1.91 (1.20)	4	—	[41]
	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	1.4–9.4^(1)	3	—	[14]
	Pt. Barrow, Alaska	1998–2001	3.84 (3.55)	34	—	[19]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	3.93 (7.28)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	3.23 (1.05)	9	11.2
Pb	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	0.03	1	—	[13]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	0.04 (0.02)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	0.03 (—)^(2)	9	11.2
Se	Holman, western Canada	1973	34.42 (33.23)	6	8.5	[39, 40]
	Belcher Island, eastern Canada	1974	20.83 (13.47)	10	4.9	[40]
	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	0.43–5.3^(1)	3	—	[14]
	Pt. Barrow, Alaska	1998–2001	5.27 (3.51)	38	—	[19]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	4.35 (4.58)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	4.79 (1.10)	9	11.2
V	Norton Sound, Alaska	1989–1993	0.15–1.04^(1)	3	—	[14]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	0.29 (0.30)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	0.71 (0.88)	9	11.2
Zn	Nome, Alaska	1989–1993	32.60–103.70^(1)	3	—	[13]
	Pt. Barrow, Alaska	1998–2001	57.48 (10.37)	38	—	[19]
	This study: reference sites	2003–2005	62.85 (23.07)	15	7.1
	This study: RDM	2005	62.45 (5.09)	9	11.2

⁽¹⁾Range provided instead of a mean and standard deviation.
⁽²⁾All samples below the detection limit.