Post on 05-Apr-2022
Metal Content in Blood of Free Ranging Harbor Seals
(Phoca vitulina) and their Effect on
Immunological Functions
Simone Griesel1; Antje Kakuschke1; Elizabeth Valenine-Thon2; Andreas Prange1
1 GKSS-Research Centre Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
2 Laboratory Dr. med. M.Sandkamp, B.Köster, Dr. med R.Hiller, MELISA (LTT) Center, Norderoog 2, 28259 Bremen, Germany
Fresh whole blood samples of 81 harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)
were collected between 2003 and 2005
Conclusions
- The concentrations of 27 elements in whole blood could be detected in the range of 1000 mg/L to 0,01 µg/L
- The levels of the essential elements P, S, K, Ca, Fe are reported in order to develop reference ranges for the health status
determination of live harbour seals
- The distribution patterns of trace elements reveal the actual body burden of seals in the German and Danish Wadden Seas
- The elements Al, Ti, Pd, Sn and Pt show significant geographical difference, but no significant age or sex related differences were found
- Seals with a Al-, Cr- and Ni- hypersensitivity also showed the highest concentrations of these metals in blood
Number of animals
location sex adult juvenile total number
Lorenzenplate m 20 12 32
f 5 17 22
L result 25 29 54
Römö m 21 1 22
f 3 2 5
R result 24 3 27
total number 49 32 81
age
Concentration of elements at Lorenzenplate
0,00
5,00
10,00
15,00
20,00
25,00
30,00
35,00
40,00
L 1 L 2 L 3 L 4 L 5 L 6 L 7 L 8 L 9 L 10 L 11 L 12 L 13 L 14 L 15 L 16 L 17 L 18 L 19 L 20
animal
concentr
ati
on ppb
Al Ti Pd Sn Pt
Concentration of elements at Römö
0,00
5,00
10,00
15,00
20,00
25,00
30,00
35,00
40,00
R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R 5 R 6 R 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 R 11 R 12 R 13 R 14 R 15 R 16 R 17 R 18 R 19 R 20
animal
concentra
tio
n ppb
Al Ti Pd Sn Pt
0,01
0,10
1,00
10,00
100,00
1000,00
10000,00
100000,00
1000000,00
10000000,00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
animal
Co
ncen
tratio
n o
f ele
men
ts (
log
pp
b)
P
S
K
Ca
Fe
Al
Ni
Pd
Cd
Sn
Pt
-Essential elements show less variation in element level
concentration (standard deviation = 12-25%) because of
homeostatic mechanisms
- Trace elements show wide variations (SD = 30-287%)
and therefore better reflect the exposure situation
Metal specific hypersensitivity
(black points)
coincided with elevated metal levels in blood
Geographical differencesFisher's Omnibus test 2 = 29,01 df = 16 P =0,023
Immunological Impact
Results
Total X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
(TXRF)P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
(ICP-MS)collision cell
Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Mo,
Pd, Cd, In, Sn, Pt, Pb, U
Ti
Memory lymphocyte immuno-stimulation assay
MELISA ®
Be, Al, Ti, Co, Cu, Mo, Pd, Cd,
Sn, Pt, EtHg, MeHg, HgCl, Pb
Lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) for
detecting antigen-specific metal sensitivities
Sector-Field ICP-MS (SF-ICP-MS)
Analytical Methods
Introduction
Sampling
- Marine mammals may serve as indicators of ecosystem change [Trilateral Dutch-German-Danish Monitoring and Assessment Program (TMAP)]
- Seals appear to be good indicators of accumulated hazardous substances in the marine environment
Element concentration
Chrom
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Pv 2
25
6
Pv 2
25
7
Pv 2
25
8
Pv 2
26
4
Pv 2
47
4
Pv 2
47
5
Pv 2
47
6
Pv 2
50
8
Pv 2
50
9
Pv 2
51
0
Pv 2
51
2
Cr-
Ko
nze
ntr
atio
n (
g/L
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
SI
(Cr)
Nickel
< LOD0
5
10
15
20
25
Pv 2
256
Pv 2
257
Pv 2
258
Pv 2
264
Pv 2
474
Pv 2
475
Pv 2
476
Pv 2
508
Pv 2
509
Pv 2
510
Pv 2
512
Ni-K
onzentr
ation (
g/L
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
SI
(Ni)
µg/L Be Al P S K Ca Ti V Cr
Median 0.1704 14.89 439505 1534332 159877 42092 2.25 0.84 8.90
Min 0.092 0.169 153730 601494 96217 16060 0.58 0.32 0.358
Max 1.5 419.92 732078 2194144 199286 61920 10.80 4.48 115.52
Std % 111 199 24 21 14 22 78 59 132
µg/L Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn As Se Rb
Median 80.2 737819 0.74 3.84 809 3390 190 885 78
Min 41.18 471168 0.068 0.29 428 1914 46 459 55.9
Max 131.4 890749 5.04 33.58 1081 6264 780 2900 134
Std % 25 12 69 101 16 16 63 38 23
µg/L Sr Mo Pd Cd In Sn Pt Pb U
Median 46 5.066 0.840 0.212 0.100 0.440 0.210 1.82 0.081
Min 25.5 1.48 0.119 0.090 0.060 0.039 0.039 0.020 0.040
Max 95.00 21.62 13.80 0.600 0.294 4.00 2.45 8.10 0.360
Std % 30 47 113 50 69 102 127 64 70
With the collaboration of the FTZ Westcoast