Mercury in soil, earthworms and organs of voles Myodes glareolus and shrew Sorex araneus in the vicinity of an industrial complex in Northwest Russia (Cherepovets)

The characteristic properties of uptake and distribution of mercury in terrestrial ecosystems have received much lesser attention compared to aquatic particularly in Russia. Terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to large industrial manufactures—potential sources of mercury inflow into the environment frequently remain unstudied. This is the first report on mercury (Hg) levels in the basic elements of terrestrial ecosystems situated close to a large metallurgical complex. Mean values of mercury concentration (mg Hg/kg dry weight) in the vicinity of city of Cherepovets were the following: 0.056 ± 0.033—in the humus layer of soil; 0.556 ± 0.159—in earthworms; in the organs of voles Myodes glareolus (kidneys—0.021 ± 0.001; liver—0.014 ± 0.003; muscle—0.014 ± 0.001; brain—0.008 ± 0.002); in the organs of shrew Sorex araneus (kidneys—0.191 ± 0.016; liver—0.124 ± 0.011; muscle—0.108 ± 0.009; brain—0.065 ± 0.000). Correlation dependences between Hg content in soil and earthworms ( r s = 0.85, p