Comparing Heavy Metal Concentrations in Human Hair and River Otter Fur
Presentation Abstract
Students at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) have been video monitoring river otters (Lontra canadensis) in the Snohomish River estuary system for the past three years, as well as collecting and dissecting over 200 scat samples to determine diet composition. These mammals feed opportunistically on crab, sculpin, and even bird. Because of their high trophic level standing, it was hypothesized that otters were most likely to reflect bioaccumulation of heavy metals and other elements, as well as the health of their ecosystem, which could be seen through concentrations in their fur. Fur samples were collected non-invasively by a designed brush system under a fence and elementally analyzed using the ICP-MS at the Everett Environmental Lab. Human hair was also analyzed for this study, accounting for and comparing age, gender, diet, and hair products that may contribute to concentrations. If people who consume seafood, such as crab, show similar concentration to rivers otters, a common source of bioaccumulation could be assumed. Preliminary data suggests that river otters have an average zinc concentration of 605.185 mg/kg in ppb, parts per billion, and the ratio of magnesium to iron is 1 : 3.46, respectively. A preliminary human hair survey suggests that women have an average zinc concentration of 371.826 mg/kg with a high of 733.900 mg/kg, whereas men had an average zinc concentration of 207.579 mg/kg with a high of 238.855 mg/kg. As expected, men had an average higher iron concentration than women by sevenfold, 241.464 mg/kg compared to women at 34.51 mg/kg.
Session Title
General species and food webs
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
North American river otter--Effect of heavy metals on--Washington (State)--Snohomish River Estuary
Geographic Coverage
Washington (State); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Comparing Heavy Metal Concentrations in Human Hair and River Otter Fur
2016SSEC
Students at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) have been video monitoring river otters (Lontra canadensis) in the Snohomish River estuary system for the past three years, as well as collecting and dissecting over 200 scat samples to determine diet composition. These mammals feed opportunistically on crab, sculpin, and even bird. Because of their high trophic level standing, it was hypothesized that otters were most likely to reflect bioaccumulation of heavy metals and other elements, as well as the health of their ecosystem, which could be seen through concentrations in their fur. Fur samples were collected non-invasively by a designed brush system under a fence and elementally analyzed using the ICP-MS at the Everett Environmental Lab. Human hair was also analyzed for this study, accounting for and comparing age, gender, diet, and hair products that may contribute to concentrations. If people who consume seafood, such as crab, show similar concentration to rivers otters, a common source of bioaccumulation could be assumed. Preliminary data suggests that river otters have an average zinc concentration of 605.185 mg/kg in ppb, parts per billion, and the ratio of magnesium to iron is 1 : 3.46, respectively. A preliminary human hair survey suggests that women have an average zinc concentration of 371.826 mg/kg with a high of 733.900 mg/kg, whereas men had an average zinc concentration of 207.579 mg/kg with a high of 238.855 mg/kg. As expected, men had an average higher iron concentration than women by sevenfold, 241.464 mg/kg compared to women at 34.51 mg/kg.
