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Amundsen PA, Henriksson M, Poste A, Prati S, Power M. Ecological Drivers of Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish of a Subarctic Watercourse. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:873-887. [PMID: 36727562 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a serious concern for aquatic ecosystems because it may biomagnify to harmful concentrations within food webs and consequently end up in humans that eat fish. However, the trophic transfer of mercury through the aquatic food web may be impacted by several factors related to network complexity and the ecology of the species present. The present study addresses the interplay between trophic ecology and mercury contamination in the fish communities of two lakes in a pollution-impacted subarctic watercourse, exploring the role of both horizontal (feeding habitat) and vertical (trophic position) food web characteristics as drivers for the Hg contamination in fish. The lakes are located in the upper and lower parts of the watercourse, with the lower site located closer to, and downstream from, the main pollution source. The lakes have complex fish communities dominated by coregonids (polymorphic whitefish and invasive vendace) and several piscivorous species. Analyses of habitat use, stomach contents, and stable isotope signatures (δ15 N, δ13 C) revealed similar food web structures in the two lakes except for a few differences chiefly related to ecological effects of the invasive vendace. The piscivores had higher Hg concentrations than invertebrate-feeding fish. Concentrations increased with size and age for the piscivores and vendace, whereas habitat differences were of minor importance. Most fish species showed significant differences in Hg concentrations between the lakes, the highest values typically found in the downstream site where the biomagnification rate also was higher. Mercury levels in piscivorous fish included concentrations that exceed health authorization limits, with possible negative implications for fishing and human consumption. Our findings accentuate the importance of acquiring detailed knowledge of the drivers that can magnify Hg concentrations in fish and how these may vary within and among aquatic systems, to provide a scientific basis for adequate management strategies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:873-887. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per-Arne Amundsen
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Matilda Henriksson
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Amanda Poste
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- The Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Framsenteret, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sebastian Prati
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Laske SM, Burke SM, Carey MP, Swanson HK, Zimmerman CE. Investigating effects of climate-induced changes in water temperature and diet on mercury concentrations in an Arctic freshwater forage fish. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:114851. [PMID: 36414108 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The amount of mercury (Hg) in Arctic lake food webs is, and will continue to be, affected by rapid, ongoing climate change. At warmer temperatures, fish require more energy to sustain growth; changes in their metabolic rates and consuming prey with potentially higher Hg concentrations could result in increased Hg accumulation. To examine the potential implications of climate warming on forage fish Hg accumulation in Arctic lakes, we quantified growth and Hg accumulation in Ninespine Stickleback Pungitius pungitius under different temperature and diet scenarios using bioenergetics models. Four scenarios were considered that examined the role of climate, diet, climate × diet, and climate × diet × elevated prey Hg. As expected, annual fish growth increased with warmer temperatures, but growth rates and Hg accumulation were largely diet dependent. Compared to current growth rates of 0.3 g⋅y-1, fish growth increased at least 200% for fish consuming energy-dense benthic prey and decreased at least 40% for fish consuming pelagic prey. Compared to baseline levels, the Hg burden per kilocalorie of Ninespine Stickleback declined up to 43% with benthic consumption - indicating strong somatic growth dilution - but no more than 4% with pelagic consumption; elevated prey Hg concentrations led to moderate Hg declines in benthic-foraging fish and Hg increases in pelagic-foraging fish. Bioenergetics models demonstrated the complex interaction of water temperature, growth, prey proportions, and prey Hg concentrations that respond to climate change. Further work is needed to resolve mechanisms and rates linking climate change to Hg availability and uptake in Arctic freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Laske
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA.
| | - Samantha M Burke
- Department of Biology and Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael P Carey
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Heidi K Swanson
- Department of Biology and Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Qin F, Amyot M, Bertolo A. The relationship between zooplankton vertical distribution and the concentration of aqueous Hg in boreal lakes: A comparative field study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159793. [PMID: 36374726 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The production of the highly toxic monomethylmercury (MeHg) is heterogenous throughout the water column. Multiple factors have been identified to significantly affect this process, such as an extended anoxic water layer and a deep-water phytoplankton maximum. However, the role of water column heterogeneity on mercury (Hg) cycling is still poorly known, especially concerning the role of zooplankton grazers. Here, four boreal lakes with contrasting characteristics were sampled (i.e., transparency and the presence/absence of fish) at both day and night in order to maximize the heterogeneity in zooplankton abundance both among and within lakes, and to investigate their potential links with Hg vertical heterogeneity. Diel variation of the concentrations of both dissolved total Hg (DTHg) and total Hg (THg) were observed, with night samples significantly higher than day samples. Although this pattern was not related to diel changes in the vertical distribution of zooplankton, results showed that the presence of large copepods (>1.2 mm) and medium-sized (0.6 to 1.2 mm) cladocerans was significantly associated with lower concentrations of DTHg in the water at a given depth, whereas the presence of medium-sized copepods was significantly associated with the concentration of THg. The presence of cladocerans was significantly associated with the ratio between the dissolved MeHg and DTHg (conventionally used as a proxy of methylation potential). Phytoplankton biomass was directly correlated with the concentration of both dissolved and total MeHg and the methylation potential. At the same time, phytoplankton biomass was inversely related to the fraction of DTHg. These results suggest a potential key role of the heterogeneity of biotic factors in the water column, especially of phytoplankton and zooplankton, in the cycling of total Hg and MeHg in boreal lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Qin
- Centre de recherche sur les interactions bassins versants-écosystèmes aquatiques (RIVE) et Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boul. des Forges, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Département de sciences biologiques (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Andrea Bertolo
- Centre de recherche sur les interactions bassins versants-écosystèmes aquatiques (RIVE) et Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boul. des Forges, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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Qing Y, Li Y, Yang J, Li S, Gu K, Bao Y, Zhan Y, He K, Wang X, Li Y. Risk assessment of mercury through dietary exposure in China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:120026. [PMID: 36029907 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a widespread heavy metal causing various damages to health, while insufficient studies assessed its exposure risk across China. This study explored concentrations in food items and dietary exposure risks across China by comprehensively analyzing the researches on total Hg (THg) in eight food items and methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic foods published between 1980 and 2021. According to the included 695 studies, the average THg concentration in all food items was 0.033 mg/kg (ranging from 0.004 to 0.185 mg/kg), with the highest concentration in edible fungi. The average daily dietary THg exposure from all foods was 12.9 μg/day. Plant-based foods accounted for 62.7% of the dietary THg exposure. Cereals and vegetables were the primary source of THg exposure. The MeHg concentration in aquatic foods was 0.08 mg/kg, and the average dietary exposure was 3.8 μg/day. Monte Carlo simulations of the dietary exposure risk assessment of THg and MeHg showed that approximately 6.4 and 7.0% of residents exceeded the health-based guidance value set by the European Food Safety Authority, with higher exposure risk in Southwest and South China. The nationwide target hazard quotient index of THg was greater than 1, suggesting that the non-carcinogenic risk of dietary exposure to THg needed further concern. In summary, this study has a comprehensive understanding of dietary Hg exposure risks across China, which provide a data basis for Hg exposure risk assessment and policy formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Qing
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Yongzhen Li
- Children's hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Jiaqi Yang
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shichun Li
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Kaixin Gu
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Yunxia Bao
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Yuhao Zhan
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Kai He
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Yanfei Li
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, 201300, China.
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Johnston TA, Lescord GL, Quesnel M, Savage PL, Gunn JM, Kidd KA. Age, body size, growth and dietary habits: What are the key factors driving individual variability in mercury of lacustrine fishes in northern temperate lakes? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113740. [PMID: 35750129 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fish total mercury concentration ([THg]) has been linked to various fish attributes, but the relative importance of these attributes in accounting for among-individual variation in [THg] has not been thoroughly assessed. We compared the contributions of ontogeny (age, length), growth (growth rate, body condition), and food web position (δ13C, δ15N) to among-individual variability in [THg] within populations of seven common fishes from 141 north temperate lakes. Ontogenetic factors accounted for most variation in [THg]; age was a stronger and less variable predictor than length for most species. Adding both indices of growth and food web position to these models increased explained variation (R2) in [THg] by 6-25% among species. Fish [THg] at age increased with growth rate, while fish [THg] at length decreased with growth rate, and the effect of body condition was consistently negative. Trophic elevation (inferred from δ15N) was a stronger predictor than primary production source (inferred from δ13C) for piscivores but not benthivores. Fish [THg] increased with δ15N in all species but showed a more variable relationship with δ13C. Among-individual variation in [THg] is primarily related to age or size in most temperate freshwater fishes, and effects of growth rate and food web position need to be considered in the context of these ontogenetic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Johnston
- Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
| | - Gretchen L Lescord
- Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada; Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - John M Gunn
- Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Sun L, Chen W, Yuan D, Zhou L, Lu C, Zheng Y. Distribution and Transformation of Mercury in Subtropical Wild-Caught Seafood from the Southern Taiwan Strait. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:855-867. [PMID: 33792858 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02695-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Wild-caught seafood contains significant amounts of mercury. Investigating the mercury accumulation levels in wild-caught seafood and analyzing its migration and transformation are of great value for assessing the health risks of mercury intake and for the tracking of mercury sources. We determined the concentrations and stable mercury isotopic compositions (δ202Hg, Δ199Hg, Δ200Hg, and Δ201Hg) of 104 muscle samples collected from 38 species of seafood typically harvested from the Taiwan Shallow Fishing Ground (TSFG), Southern Taiwan Strait. Overall, the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) ranged from 11 to 479 ng/g (dry weight, dw) and 10 to 363 ng/g (dw), respectively, and were below the threshold value established by the USEPA and the Chinese government. Demersal and near-benthic species accumulated more mercury than pelagic or mesopelagic species. The characteristics of mercury isotopes in wild-caught marine species differed in terms of vertical and horizontal distribution. Considering the known peripheral land sources of mercury (Δ199Hg ≈ 0), the mercury in seafood from the TSFG (Δ199Hg > 0) did not originate from anthropogenic emissions. The ratio of Δ199Hg and Δ201Hg (1.18 ± 0.03) suggested that the photoreduction of Hg (II) and the photo-degradation of MeHg equally contributed to mass-independent fractionation. Based on the values of Δ199Hg/δ202Hg (1.18 ± 0.03), about 67% of the mercury in seawater had undergone microbial demethylation prior to methylation and entering the seafood. Additionally, the vertical distribution of Δ200Hg in seafood from different water depths implies that mercury input was in part caused by atmospheric deposition. Our results provide detailed information on the sources of mercury and its transfer in the food web in offshore fishing grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lumin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Estuarine Ecological Security and Environmental Health, Education Department of Fujian, Tan Kah Kee College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, 363105, China.
- Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Ministry of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361105, China.
| | - Weijia Chen
- Key Laboratory of Estuarine Ecological Security and Environmental Health, Education Department of Fujian, Tan Kah Kee College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, 363105, China
- Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Ministry of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361105, China
| | - Dongxing Yuan
- Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Ministry of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361105, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Estuarine Ecological Security and Environmental Health, Education Department of Fujian, Tan Kah Kee College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, 363105, China
| | - Changyi Lu
- Key Laboratory of Estuarine Ecological Security and Environmental Health, Education Department of Fujian, Tan Kah Kee College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, 363105, China
- Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Ministry of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361105, China
| | - Yingjie Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Estuarine Ecological Security and Environmental Health, Education Department of Fujian, Tan Kah Kee College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, 363105, China
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Lei P, Zhang J, Zhu J, Tan Q, Kwong RWM, Pan K, Jiang T, Naderi M, Zhong H. Algal Organic Matter Drives Methanogen-Mediated Methylmercury Production in Water from Eutrophic Shallow Lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10811-10820. [PMID: 34236181 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Algal blooms bring massive amounts of algal organic matter (AOM) into eutrophic lakes, which influences microbial methylmercury (MeHg) production. However, because of the complexity of AOM and its dynamic changes during algal decomposition, the relationship between AOM and microbial Hg methylators remains poorly understood, which hinders predicting MeHg production and its bioaccumulation in eutrophic shallow lakes. To address that, we explored the impacts of AOM on microbial Hg methylators and MeHg production by characterizing dissolved organic matter with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and quantifying the microbial Hg methylation gene hgcA. We first reveal that the predominance of methanogens, facilitated by eutrophication-induced carbon input, could drive MeHg production in lake water. Specifically, bioavailable components of AOM (i.e., CHONs such as aromatic proteins and soluble microbial byproduct-like materials) increased the abundances (Archaea-hgcA gene: 438-2240% higher) and activities (net CH4 production: 16.0-44.4% higher) of Archaea (e.g., methanogens). These in turn led to enhanced dissolved MeHg levels (24.3-15,918% higher) for three major eutrophic shallow lakes in China. Nevertheless, our model results indicate that AOM-facilitated MeHg production could be offset by AOM-induced MeHg biodilution under eutrophication. Our study would help reduce uncertainties in predicting MeHg production, providing a basis for mitigating the MeHg risk in eutrophic lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Jin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Jinjie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Qiaoguo Tan
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology and Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P. R. China
| | - Raymond W M Kwong
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Ke Pan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, P. R. China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå SE-90183, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Naderi
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
- Environmental and Life Science Program (EnLS), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
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Arsenic bioaccumulation in subarctic fishes of a mine-impacted bay on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221361. [PMID: 31442230 PMCID: PMC6707560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A subarctic fish community in mine-impacted Yellowknife Bay (Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada) was investigated for biological and ecological processes controlling arsenic bioaccumulation. Total concentrations of arsenic, antimony, and metals were measured in over 400 fishes representing 13 species, and primary producers and consumers were included to characterize food web transfer. Yellowknife Bay had slightly more arsenic in surface waters (~3 μg/L) relative to the main body of Great Slave Lake (<1 μg/L), resulting in two-fold higher total arsenic concentrations in muscle of burbot (Lota lota), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), and northern pike (Esox lucius). Other mining-associated contaminants, specifically antimony, lead, and silver, were typically below analytical detection in those fish species. No evidence was found for enhanced bioaccumulation of arsenic in long-lived, slow-growing subarctic fishes. Food web biodilution of total arsenic occurred between primary producers, aquatic invertebrates, and fish, although trophic position did not explain arsenic concentrations among fishes. Pelagic-feeding species had higher total arsenic concentrations compared to littoral fishes. Arsenic accumulated in subarctic fishes to comparable levels as fishes from lakes around the world with similar water arsenic concentrations. This first comprehensive study for a subarctic freshwater food web identified the importance of water exposure, biodilution, and habitat-specific feeding on arsenic bioaccumulation.
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Zhang W, Zhang X, Tian Y, Zhu Y, Tong Y, Li Y, Wang X. Risk assessment of total mercury and methylmercury in aquatic products from offshore farms in China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2018; 354:198-205. [PMID: 29753188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Revised: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic products has been a wide spread health concern. The objective of this study is to determine total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in different species of aquatic products from major offshore farms in China, and to assess health impacts from consumption. Results showed that the concentrations of THg and MeHg ranged 5.6-328.4 ng/g (wet weight) and 4.3-303.6 ng/g (wet weight) in aquatic products, respectively, and were very variable among species and origin sources. Target hazard quotient (THQ) suggested that MeHg exposure via consumption posed high health risks to children aged 2-7 and higher income families. Residents above the age of 13 and with low income have relatively lower health risk of MeHg exposure. Health impacts on heart attacks and newborns' IQ from MeHg exposure were evaluated using dose-response relationships. Results showed that mother's consumption of aquatic products (at 6 ounce per day) may cause a loss of 0.38 IQ points for newborns. For non-pregnant, consumption of aquatic products may cause an increase rate of mortality and morbidity of heart attacks at 10.59 and 78.45 per 100,000 persons, respectively. The negative health impact of consuming seawater fish was higher than freshwater fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Yuling Tian
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Yindong Tong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA.
| | - Xuejun Wang
- MOE Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Beauvais-Flück R, Gimbert F, Méhault O, Cosio C. Trophic fate of inorganic and methyl-mercury in a macrophyte-chironomid food chain. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2017; 338:140-147. [PMID: 28550790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Dietary transfer of mercury (Hg) is central for its effects on higher trophic animals, nonetheless, its driving parameters and characteristics are not well understood. Here we measured Hg species transfer (uptake) from the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii -mimicking tissues incorporation in sediments after decay- to Chironomus riparius. Methyl-Hg (MMHg) was more transferable than inorganic Hg (IHg) from plant's intracellular and cell wall compartments. After 10-d-long exposure, MMHg was predominantly found in MMHg form in the cytosolic compartment (S) of chironomids, while IHg showed similar concentrations in S and insoluble debris (P) compartments. After cessation of Hg species exposure (depuration), only MMHg resulted in a bioaccumulation factor >1. Toxicokinetics modelling indicated a demethylation of MMHg in the S fraction and its concomitant storage in the P fraction as IHg during both uptake and depuration, revealing an elimination and detoxification mechanism. Our data support that MMHg is more transferable than IHg to sensitive subcellular targets as well as bioavailable fraction in chironomids, in line with field studies showing higher MMHg transfer than IHg in food webs. Hence our data point out macrophytes as a potential Hg source to benthic food webs to be considered for enhancing aquatic environment protection during phytoremediation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
| | - Frédéric Gimbert
- Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
| | - Ophélie Méhault
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Beauvais-Flück R, Chaumot A, Gimbert F, Quéau H, Geffard O, Slaveykova VI, Cosio C. Role of cellular compartmentalization in the trophic transfer of mercury species in a freshwater plant-crustacean food chain. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 320:401-407. [PMID: 27585272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) represents an important risk for human health through the food webs contamination. Macrophytes bioaccumulate Hg and play a role in Hg transfer to food webs in shallow aquatic ecosystems. Nevertheless, the compartmentalization of Hg within macrophytes, notably major accumulation in the cell wall and its impact on trophic transfer to primary consumers are overlooked. The present work focusses on the trophic transfer of inorganic Hg (IHg) and monomethyl-Hg (MMHg) from the intracellular and cell wall compartments of the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii - considered a good candidate for phytoremediation - to the crustacean Gammarus fossarum. The results demonstrated that Hg accumulated in both compartments was trophically bioavailable to gammarids. Besides IHg from both compartments were similarly transferred to G. fossarum, while for MMHg, uptake rates were ∼2.5-fold higher in G. fossarum fed with the cell wall vs the intracellular compartment. During the depuration phase, Hg concentrations in G. fossarum varied insignificantly suggesting that both IHg and MMHg were strongly bound to biological ligands in the crustacean. Our data imply that cell walls have to be considered as an important source of Hg to consumers in freshwater food webs when developing procedures for enhancing aquatic environment protection during phytoremediation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Arnaud Chaumot
- Irstea, UR MALY Milieux Aquatiques, ÿcologie et Pollutions, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Frédéric Gimbert
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
| | - Hervé Quéau
- Irstea, UR MALY Milieux Aquatiques, ÿcologie et Pollutions, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Olivier Geffard
- Irstea, UR MALY Milieux Aquatiques, ÿcologie et Pollutions, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Hanna DEL, Buck DG, Chapman LJ. Effects of habitat on mercury concentrations in fish: a case study of Nile perch (Lates niloticus) in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2016; 25:178-191. [PMID: 26520435 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-015-1578-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study focused on variation in fish mercury (Hg) concentrations in 185 Nile perch (Lates niloticus) samples collected across four different habitat types in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda, a tropical lake located proximate to Lake Victoria. We quantified the stomach contents of Nile perch using the % index of relative importance, as well as, nitrogen and carbon isotopic concentrations to assess the role of diet and trophic level on Hg concentrations. In each habitat, we also evaluated a suite of chemical and physical characteristics that are commonly associated with variation in Hg bioavailability in temperate systems. Using linear mixed models and ANOVA, we demonstrate that habitat of capture is an important predictor of Hg concentrations in Nile perch from Lake Nabugabo and that the relationship between habitat and Hg is size and diet dependent. Nile perch diet as well as dissolved oxygen concentration and pH were also correlated with observed differences in fish Hg. Overall, Hg concentrations in Nile perch were all well below the WHO/FAO recommended guideline of 500 ng/g (mean 13.6 ± 0.4 ng/g wet weight; range 4.9 and 29.3 ng/g wet weight). This work contributes to a growing awareness of intra-lake divergence in Nile perch, as well as, divergence in Hg concentrations between varying aquatic habitat types, particularly wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E L Hanna
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Ave. Docteur Penfield, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada.
| | - D G Buck
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - L J Chapman
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Ave. Docteur Penfield, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
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Perron T, Chételat J, Gunn J, Beisner BE, Amyot M. Effects of experimental thermocline and oxycline deepening on methylmercury bioaccumulation in a Canadian shield lake. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:2626-2634. [PMID: 24512142 DOI: 10.1021/es404839t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Environmental disturbances like deforestation or climate change may influence lake thermal and oxic stratification, thereby modifying cycles of contaminants such as mercury (Hg). In a lake naturally separated into three basins, the thermocline and oxycline of an experimental basin were deepened by 4 and 3 m, respectively, to study the effect on the methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation. This treatment decreased hypolimnetic MeHg concentration by approximately 90%, zooplankton concentrations by 30 to 50%, and in some fish by 45%. A multiple linear regression indicated that oxycline depth significantly influenced hypolimnetic MeHg concentrations, with no significant effect of thermocline depth, anoxic water volume, interface area of oxic-anoxic water, and sediment area in contact with anoxic water. Fish MeHg decline varied, with a greater response by low oxygen-tolerant bullhead. Increased pelagic primary and secondary production likely caused zooplankton and fish MeHg decreases via algal and growth dilution. Environmental changes leading to oxycline deepening are therefore predicted to cause a decrease in MeHg bioaccumulation in similar Canadian Shield lakes. If associated ecosystem impacts related to the deepening treatment are deemed acceptable, then this experiment provides a potential remediation method for small lakes confronted with MeHg accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Perron
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL), Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal , Pavillon Marie-Victorin CP6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
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