Maine and New Hampshire Moose Data

Project Objectives and Location:

Data previously published:

Analysis of tissue cadmium concentrations in New England Moose
K. A. Gustafson, K.M. Bontaites, and A.R. Major
ALCES 36:35-40 (2000)

The article reported on Cd levels and not mercury, so the Hg data is still
unpublished (although USGS is working on comparing the Northeast with
Alaska). 

                  ECDMS Working Catalog ‑ 5030032                      Page 1

                            08/02/95

Catalog Title: Metal Levels in Moose Livers from VT, NH and ME  

Regional Study Id: 5F01                  Number of Samples: 50

Chain of Custody: N                      Disposition of Samples: I

Rapid Turnaround Request: N              Non‑Routine Request: N

Cost Code Information: NO COST CODE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED

Catalog Comments: NO COMMENTS PROVIDED.

Background:

     Over the last five years, the New England Field Offices have documented        

     disturbingly high levels of metals in the fauna of Northern New England.       

     High levels of mercury have been documented in eagles and lead levels in       

     common loons (partially due to the ingestion of lead sinkers) have been        

     high enough, in some cases, to contribute to the reproductive impairment       

     of this species.  A previous study done in cooperation with NH Fish and        

     Game documented high levels of cadmium in the livers of white‑tailed deer.     

     This study was done to address concerns pertaining to human and wildlife       

     risk.                                                                          

     There is much debate in the scientific community as to the origin of these     

     metals.  One hypothesis is that these metals are due to atmospheric            

     deposition.  Although species such as loons and eagles can tell us what        

     the residues levels are in high level predators, they are a poor indicator     

     species to use in determining the origin of these metals due to the confounding

     effects of biomagnification through the food chain.                             

     We wanted to revisit the issue of metals in an herbivore to determine          

     1) change in levels of cadmium since the last study, 2) levels of other         

     metals that now appear to be affecting wildlife populations, and 3) the        

     contribution of atmospheric deposition to the total metal burden on the        

     northern forest ecosystem.                                                      

     This is a cooperative effort between VT Department of Fish and Game, NH        

     Department of Fish and Game, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,

     and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Livers from moose were chosen due to    

     the availability of these tissues for collection, the geographic distribution  

     of the species, and the interest of the cooperating agencies.  Wherever        

     possible, samples were taken as close to known wet and dry depositional        

     monitoring stations to assess the link between atmospheric deposition and      

     levels of metals in an herbivore.                                               

Catalog Instructions:

     Cadmium, mercury, and lead have the highest priority for the metals scan.      

                             Catalog Number: 5030032                      Page 2

                                      08/02/95

Study Objectives:

     1) To determine the level and extent of metal contamination in Northern        

     New England as determined from moose livers.                                   

                             Catalog Number: 5030032                      Page 3

                                      08/02/95

Sample      Sample       Sample

Number      wt./vol.     Matrix              Analytical Priority/Analyses Requested

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

M16          76.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME02        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME03        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME04        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME05        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME06        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME07        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME08        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME09        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME10        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME11        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME12        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME13        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME14        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME15        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME16        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME17        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME18        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME19        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

ME20        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH01        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH02        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH03        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH04        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH05        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH06        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

                             Catalog Number: 5030032                      Page 4

                                      08/02/95

Sample      Sample       Sample

Number      wt./vol.     Matrix              Analytical Priority/Analyses Requested

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

NH07        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH08        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH09        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH10        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH11        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH12        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH13        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH14        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH15        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH16        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH17        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH18        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH19        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

NH20        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT01        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT02        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT03        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT04        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT05        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT06        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT07        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT08        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT09        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)

VT10        200.000g   Liver                 1‑1 Metal Scan (ICP Scan and As, Se, Hg)