Trace elements in king eiders and common eiders in the Canadian arctic

We determined concentrations of selected trace elements in tissues of king and common eiders at three locations in the Canadian arctic. Renal and hepatic cadmium concentrations in king eiders at a location in the eastern arctic were among the highest ever recorded in eider ducks: there, they were higher in king eiders than in common eiders. Cadmium concentrations were lower in king eiders from the western arctic than in those from the east. In the western arctic, cadmium concentrations did not differ between species. Hepatic mercury and zinc were higher in king eiders than in common eiders. Zinc and selenium were higher in eiders from the western arctic than in those from the eastern arctic. Trace element concentrations in these two duck species were below published toxicity thresholds. Positive correlations in trace element concentrations in both species were found between total and organic hepatic mercury, renal and hepatic cadmium as well as hepatic zinc, copper, mercury, and cadmium. Body mass of common but not king eiders and spleen mass of both species were negatively correlated with mercury concentrations. In common eiders, the number of nematode parasites was positively correlated with total and organic mercury. Histopathological evidence of kidney or liver lesions that are typical of trace metal poisoning was not found. We did not find evidence to support the hypothesis that trace metal exposure may be contributing to adverse effects on the health of individuals of these species. Received: 7 February 2001/Accepted: 14 May 2001