Contamination status and accumulation characteristics of metals and a metalloid in birds on Teuri Island, Hokkaido, Japan

[Abstract] Teuri Island, Hokkaido in Japan is an important place for seabirds breeding. We measured the concentrations of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) and a metalloid (As) in rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) (n=7), thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) (n=2), spectacled guillemot (Cepphus carbo) (n=6), slaty-backed gull (Larus schistisagus) (n=15), jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) (n=3), Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonica) (n=6) and Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus azonus) (n=2). Spectacled guillemot had high As concentrations, with its source being their feeding habitat. Concentration of Hg in kidney of jungle crow was higher than other seabird species at Teuri.