the Faroe Islands

grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) were sampled in the Faroe Islands archipelago during the summer period in 1993 to 1995. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Hg, Se and Zn were measured in liver, kidney and muscle. All e lements except Zn exhibited lowest concentrations in muscle. Liver displayed the highe st concentrations of Cu, Hg, Se and Zn while kidney exhibited the highest Cd concentration s. However, trace element concentrations within tissues were influenced by sex and age. Thus , females showed clearly higher Cd concentrations than males. Age was the most important factor influencing the concentration of Cd, Hg and Se in liver, and of Cd and Hg in kidney. A strong positive correlation between Cd, Hg and Zn in kidney suggests the occurrence of a de toxification process involving metallothionein proteins. Similarly, strong positiv e correlation between Hg and Se and molecular Hg:Se ratio close to 1 in liver suggest t he occurrence of the demethylation process leading to the formation of mercuric selenide granu les. High Hg concentrations might be related to fish consumption by grey seals. However, such a piscivorous diet cannot be