Mercury in liver, kidney, feather and muscle of seabirds from major wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

Concentration of mercury in tissues of the great cormorant (n = 18), mallard (n = 18), and coot (n = 15) of the Caspian Sea were determined. Liver mercury in the great cormorant, mallard, and coot were (5.7 ± 0.91; 0.3 ± 0.02; 0.09 ± 0.02). Kidney levels were (3.6 ± 2.24; 0.26 ± 0.03; 0.08 ± 0.02); feather (8.7 ± 0.8; 1.04 ± 0.16; 0.23 ± 0.15) and muscle were (2.26 ± 2.04; 0.11 ± 0.01; 0.03 ± 0.02) respectively. Mercury Tolerable Daily Intake limit is set at 5 μg g(-1). But even at levels that are currently considered "tolerable", mercury poisoning can occur in children and young who consume polluted game meat regularly.