Mercury in the Soil Plant Deer Predator Food Chain of a Temperature Forest in Slovenia

In forested areas of Slovenia, total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were determined in soil profile samples, higher plants, roe deer Capreolus capreolus, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, lynx Felis lynx, and wolves Canis lupus. Analytical data from similarly contaminated sampling areas were grouped into distinct contaminated zones. Compared to concentrations of total Hg in soil, concentrations in plants of the polluted areas were low, while plants in control areas with low soil Hg contents had a much higher soil-to-plant ratio. In roe deer, the proportion of Hg intake through the inhalation route represented a maximum of 0.2% of the Hg intake through the consumption of foodstuffs. While different patterns of total Hg and MeHg accumulation were noted in selected organs, marked accumulation between the two trophic levels was noted. Very marked accumulation in the terrestrial food chain was shown by MeHg: in all organs that were compared in polluted and control locations, the bioaccumulation factors were significantly higher than 1.