Environmental Toxicology: accelerated increase in mercury contamination in north atlantic mesopelagic food chains as indicated by time series of seabird feathers

摘要

Concentrations of mercury in the environment have increased manyfold since preindustrial times as a result of anthro- pogenic emissions of gaseous mercury to the atmosphere. However, most records of historical change are affected by regional inputs and evidence of global impact of human activities at pristine oceanic sites is scanty. Seabird feathers contain a valuable record showing historical trends in methylmercury contamination. Some seabirds are top predators in epipelagic and other in mesopelagic food chains and thus reflect methylmercury contamination of these ecosystems.