Arctic seabirds allow the tracing of mercury sources on a large spatial scale

Arctic seabirds allow the tracing of mercury sources on a large spatial scale

Seabirds are exposed to alarming levels of mercury in the Arctic Ocean, an ecosystem where the methylation and bioaccumulation pathways of this pollutant of major concern are not fully known. A new study led by the Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés laboratory (LIENSs – CNRS / University of La Rochelle) in collaboration with the Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l’Environnement et les Matériaux (IPREM – CNRS / University of Pau et des pays de l’Adour) proposes an innovative approach combining the spatial monitoring of birds and the isotopic analysis of their tissues to trace the sources of mercury on a very large spatial scale in the Arctic and sub-Arctic Oceans. This work is published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

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