Total mercury in fur, whiskers and whole blood of Caspian seals (Pusa capsica) from north-east of Caspian Sea (Kazakhstan)

Total Mercury (THg) content was determined in the fur of 64 Caspian seals, in the whiskers of 59 individuals and whole blood of 29 individuals. The THg content in Caspian seal fur varied from 258 to 8511 μg/kg, in whiskers from 954 to 12,957 μg/kg, and in whole blood from 88 to 350 μg/l. There were no statistically significant differences in mercury concentration in biomaterial between males and females (Kruskal-Wallis test, p 5400 μg/kg). •Total mercury content in fur, vibrissae and whole blood of Caspian seals was determined•Mercury content in biomaterials of Caspian seals is comparable to other Eurasian pinniped species•The concentration of total mercury in fur is below the values at which adverse health effects on seals occur