Mercury deposition in teeth from moose and humans in the vicinity of Isle Royale National Park
Peterson RO, Eide R, Hinsenkamp A. 2002. Mercury deposition in teeth from moose and humans in the vicinity of Isle Royale National Park. Michigan Technological University, USA and University of Bergen, Norway. Houghton, MI
Michigan's Upper Peninsula may be experiencing mercury contaminations from direct runoff and through atmospheric deposition via precipitation. Here we report a study of moose (Alces alces) teeth from Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior to evaluate if pollution control measures and restictive regulations have affected biological uptake of mercury (Hg), and to evaluate human exposure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula using deciduous teeth. Median Hg content for human and recent moose (after 1980) were 4.9 and 15 ng Hg/g tooth substance, while the median value for early moose (before 1980) was 151 ng Hg/g. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide definitive evidence that biological uptake of Hg in terrestrial food chains has begun to decline, following a downward trend in Hg emissions in the Great Lakes region after 1970 that resulted from a variety of air pollution control measures.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Peterson, Rolf; Eide, Rune; Hinsenkamp, Andrea
- Date of Issue
- 2002
- Publisher
- Michigan Technological University, USA and University of Bergen, Norway
- Units
- ARD , ISRO
- Keywords
- ARD_Park-Air-Info_Collection, Contaminants, Deposition, Humans, Isle Royale National Park, Mercury, Mercury Deposition, Michigan, Moose (Alces alces), Teeth, terrestrial food chain, Toxics