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Jędruch A, Bełdowski J, Bełdowska M. Mercury dynamics at the base of the pelagic food web of the Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116363. [PMID: 38621354 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116363] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Planktonic organisms, which have direct contact with water, serve as the entry point for mercury (Hg), into the marine food web, impacting its levels in higher organisms, including fish, mammals, and humans who consume seafood. This study provides insights into the distribution and behavior of Hg within the Baltic Sea, specifically the Gulf of Gdańsk, focusing on pelagic primary producers and consumers. Phytoplankton Hg levels were primarily influenced by its concentrations in water, while Hg concentrations in zooplankton resulted from dietary exposure through suspended particulate matter and phytoplankton consumption. Hg uptake by planktonic organisms, particularly phytoplankton, was highly efficient, with Hg concentrations four orders of magnitude higher than those in the surrounding water. However, unlike biomagnification of Hg between SPM and zooplankton, biomagnification between zooplankton and phytoplankton was not apparent, likely due to the low trophic position and small size of primary consumers, high Hg elimination rates, and limited absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland; University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Jacek Bełdowski
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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2
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Kwasigroch U, Łukawska-Matuszewska K, Jędruch A, Brocławik O, Bełdowska M. Mobility and bioavailability of mercury in sediments of the southern Baltic sea in relation to the chemical fractions of iron: Spatial and temporal patterns. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 191:106132. [PMID: 37579704 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Marine sediments play a significant role as reservoirs for mercury (Hg), a bioaccumulative toxic pollutant that poses risks to human and ecosystem health. Iron (Fe) has been recognized as an influential factor in the complexation and bioavailability of Hg in sediments. However, limited studies have investigated the interactions between the chemical fractions of these elements in natural settings. This study aims to examine the fractions of Hg and Fe in sediments of the Baltic Sea, a region historically impacted by Hg pollution. The Hg fractions were determined using the thermodesorption technique, while sequential extraction was employed to identify the Fe fractions. The findings confirm the crucial role of Fe in the formation, as well as the horizontal and vertical distribution of labile and stable Hg in marine sediments. Factors such as the contribution of organic matter, the presence of reactive Fe, and Fe associated with sheet silicates emerged as significant drivers that positively influenced the content of the most labile Hg fractions, potentially affecting the mobility and bioavailability of Hg in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Kwasigroch
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Łukawska-Matuszewska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Jędruch
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712, Sopot, Poland.
| | - Olga Brocławik
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
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3
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Wilman B, Saniewska D, Pyta H, Wysiecki D, Bełdowska M. Mercury fractionation - Problems in method application. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114560. [PMID: 36642005 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant with a negative effect on human and ecosystem health. Mercury is toxic in all forms. The toxicity, however, varies depending on the form of mercury, determining its physical and chemical properties. Therefore, knowledge on the chemical speciation of mercury is key for the understanding of its transport and transformations in the environment. Analysis of mercury speciation, however, is time-consuming and involves high risk of contamination. The mercury thermodesorption method offers many new possibilities. The main advantages of this method are identifying which groups of compounds are being transformed in the atmosphere, sediment and soil, suspended matter and plankton, and in organisms from different trophic levels. A great advantage of the method is also its application in mercury analyzers, where it is possible to control the heating and cooling temperatures of. The standardisation of fractionation nomenclature for all matrices (both biotic and abiotic) will be helpful in application of this mercury fractionation method too. It has also disadvantages, mostly in the technical preparation of the analyzer. The analyzer must be prepared for fractionation: setting the ventilator and adjusting the PID parameters so that the pre-set heating (t1) and combustion (t2) times reach the set value in the method program. Also, any modification of the heater forces a re-optimisation of the method with mercury standards, as certified reference materials for Hg fractionation in environmental matrices are not available. The HgF2 fraction cannot be used as the methylmercury concentration, which is undoubtedly the biggest drawback of this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Wilman
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Dominika Saniewska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Halina Pyta
- Institute of Environmental Engineering Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 34, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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Jędruch A, Falkowska L, Saniewska D, Grajewska A, Bełdowska M, Meissner W, Kalisińska E, Duzinkiewicz K, Pacyna JM. Mercury in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea: A response to decreased atmospheric deposition and changing environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114426. [PMID: 36473245 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Our review of the literature showed that since the beginning of the socio-economic transformation in Poland in the 1990s, the downward trend in Hg emissions and its deposition in the southern Baltic Sea was followed by a simultaneous decrease in Hg levels in water and marine plants and animals. Hg concentrations in the biota lowered to values that pose no or low risk to wildlife and seafood consumers. However, in the first decade of the current century, a divergence between these two trends became apparent and Hg concentrations in fish, herring and cod, began to rise. Therefore, increasing emission-independent anthropogenic pressures, which affect Hg uptake and trophodynamics, remobilization of land-based and marine legacy Hg deposits, as well as the structure of the food web, can undermine the chances of reducing both the Hg pool in the marine environment and human Hg exposure from fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
| | - Lucyna Falkowska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Dominika Saniewska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Grajewska
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute, Jerzego Waszyngtona 42, 81-342 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Włodzimierz Meissner
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Kalisińska
- Pomeranian Medical University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Kazimierz Duzinkiewicz
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Józef M Pacyna
- AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, Adama Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
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Kwasigroch U, Bełdowska M, Jędruch A, Łukawska-Matuszewska K. Distribution and bioavailability of mercury in the surface sediments of the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:35690-35708. [PMID: 33675497 PMCID: PMC8277639 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13023-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to determine the level of mercury (Hg) and its labile and stable forms in the surface sediments of the Baltic Sea. The work considers the impact of current and historical sources of Hg on sediment pollution, together with the influence of different environmental parameters, including water inflows from the North Sea. Surface sediments (top 5 cm) were collected in 2016-2017 at 91 stations located in different areas of the Baltic Sea, including Belt Sea, Arkona Basin, Bornholm Basin, Gdańsk Basin, West Gotland Basin, East Gotland Basin, and the Bothnian Sea. Besides, the particulate matter suspended in the surface and near-bottom water was also collected. The analysis of total Hg concentration and individual Hg forms in collected samples was carried out using a 5-step thermodesorption method. This method allows for the identification of three labile and thus biologically available, fractions of Hg, which are mercury halides, organic Hg, mercury oxide and sulphate. Two stable fractions, mercury sulphide and residual Hg, were also determined. The highest Hg concentrations, reaching 341 ng g-1, were measured in the highly industrialised Kiel Bay, which was additionally a munition dumping site during and after World War II. High Hg level, ranging from 228 to 255 ng g-1, was also recorded in the surface sediments of the Arkona Basin, which was a result of the cumulative effect of several factors, such as deposition of Hg-rich riverine matter, favourable hydrodynamic conditions and military activities in the past. The relatively elevated Hg concentrations, varying from 60 to 264 ng g-1, were found in the Gdańsk Basin, a region under strong anthropopressure and dominated by soft sediments. The sum of labile Hg in sediments was high and averaged 67% (with the domination of organic Hg compounds), which means that a large part of Hg can be released to the water column. It was found that the water inflows from the North Sea intensify the remobilisation of Hg and its transformation into bioavailable labile forms. As a consequence, the load of Hg introduced into the trophic chain can increase. Despite the significant reduction of Hg emission into the Baltic in the last decades, surface sediments can be an important secondary Hg source in the marine ecosystem. This is especially dangerous in the case of the western Baltic Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Kwasigroch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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Bishop K, Shanley JB, Riscassi A, de Wit HA, Eklöf K, Meng B, Mitchell C, Osterwalder S, Schuster PF, Webster J, Zhu W. Recent advances in understanding and measurement of mercury in the environment: Terrestrial Hg cycling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 721:137647. [PMID: 32197286 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This review documents recent advances in terrestrial mercury cycling. Terrestrial mercury (Hg) research has matured in some areas, and is developing rapidly in others. We summarize the state of the science circa 2010 as a starting point, and then present the advances during the last decade in three areas: land use, sulfate deposition, and climate change. The advances are presented in the framework of three Hg "gateways" to the terrestrial environment: inputs from the atmosphere, uptake in food, and runoff with surface water. Among the most notable advances: These and other advances reported here are of value in evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on reducing environmental Hg exposure to humans and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | - Ami Riscassi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400123, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA.
| | - Heleen A de Wit
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349, Norway.
| | - Karin Eklöf
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Bo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China.
| | - Carl Mitchell
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble 18 INP, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Paul F Schuster
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303-1066, USA.
| | - Jackson Webster
- Department of Civil Engineering, California State University, 400 W. 1st Street, 21 95929-0930 Chico, CA, USA.
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden.
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Jędruch A, Bełdowska M. Mercury forms in the benthic food web of a temperate coastal lagoon (southern Baltic Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 153:110968. [PMID: 32063552 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The study was conducted in the coastal zone of the southern Baltic. The research material consisted of macrozoobenthos and elements of its diet. The samples were analysed for Hg and its labile and stable forms, using the thermodesorption method. The results showed that the level of total Hg in zoobenthos was associated with dietary preferences and the share of bioavailable Hg in its food. The Hg fractionation in the macrofauna was conditioned by biological features (morphological structure) and environmental parameters (oxygenation, pH) which shape the mobility and assimilation of Hg. The absorption of the most toxic organic Hg in macrofauna was more effective in aerobic conditions, at low primary production and with the limited inflow of organic matter. The trophic transfer of Hg was favoured by the limited biomass of primary producers, and consequently of zoobenthos. An important factor influencing the biomagnification was also the share of labile Hg in macrozoobenthos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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Gębka K, Saniewska D, Bełdowska M. Mobility of mercury in soil and its transport into the sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:8492-8506. [PMID: 31912389 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06790-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is deposited temporarily in soil and can be remobilised into rivers and seas. Given that rivers are a significant part of the mercury budget in the southern Baltic region (inland sea located in northern Europe) and meteorological changes (e.g. intense rain, drought) are observed more frequently, it is important to recognize the factors affecting the cycling of bioavailable Hg forms. The aim of this study was to identify the processes influencing the changes of labile and stabile mercury proportion in soil and the potential impact on the outflow of labile Hg into fluvial systems. For this purpose, soil samples, river sediments, and river water were collected from the Reda River (southern Baltic Sea catchment area) during the 2015 hydrologic year. The material was analysed for total and particulate mercury content and Hg forms, by a thermo-desorption method. The analysis showed that due to changes of meteorological and hydrological conditions Hg can enter rivers and then be introduced into the marine environment in various forms. On the one hand due to high precipitation events washing out of labile (i.e. bond with halogenides, MeHg, HgSO4), Hg forms into the river can be enhanced which affects increasing of availability of the most dangerous Hg form in the water systems. On the other hand the same event can cause the limitation of bioavailable mercury forms by a conversion of labile Hg into the most stable one (HgSO4 ➔ HgS) under anaerobic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Gębka
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Dominika Saniewska
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
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Jędruch A, Bełdowska M, Kwasigroch U. Forms of mercury in the Baltic mussel (Mytilus trossulus): Human and ecosystem health risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 179:108755. [PMID: 31627029 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants. A significant source of this toxic element to the human body is the consumption of seafood - including the increasingly popular mussels. Mussels also play an important role in the marine ecosystem, providing a food base for fish and birds. The study aimed to determine the level of total Hg and its labile and stable forms in the Baltic mussel (Mytilus trossulus), as well as to indicate the factors that shape them. The research was conducted in the Puck Bay (Polish part of the southern Baltic Sea) in 2012-2013. The study material consisted of M. trossulus mussels, the components of their diet (suspended matter and phytoplankton), and surface sediments. Concentrations of total Hg (HgTOT) and the individual Hg forms were established using the thermodesorption method on a DMA-80 analyser (Milestone). The obtained results showed that the level of Hg concentration in M. trossulus from the Puck Bay was shaped by the individual features of specimens, related to the growth and reproductive cycle of mussels, as well as the quality of food consumed by them. The total share of labile Hg forms in M. trossulus was high, exceeding 90% of HgTOT, and the predominant form was the most dangerous organic Hg. This means that almost all of the Hg accumulated in mussels can be transferred to higher trophic levels. The obtained results showed that Baltic mussels were characterised by levels of HgTOT and organic Hg deemed to be safe for humans. A positive relationship was noted between the HgTOT concentration in a mussel's tissues and the length of its shell. Smaller sized organisms demonstrated not only by lower Hg concentrations, but also by better condition and, consequently, higher nutritional value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Urszula Kwasigroch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
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Jędruch A, Bełdowska M, Ziółkowska M. The role of benthic macrofauna in the trophic transfer of mercury in a low-diversity temperate coastal ecosystem (Puck Lagoon, southern Baltic Sea). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:137. [PMID: 30734103 PMCID: PMC6373316 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. Hg is a serious threat especially for the marine environment, in which it undergoes bioaccumulation and biomagnification, reaching elevated concentrations in fish and other seafood. The research aimed at investigating the trophodynamics of Hg in the basal links of the marine food chain: benthic macrofauna and its main food sources (i.e. suspended and sediment organic matter, micro- and macrophytobenthos). The results showed that both the amount and the origin of organic matter affected the Hg level in particular trophic groups of macrozoobenthos. The intensive inflow of terrestrial material influenced the enrichment of suspended particles and microphytobenthos in Hg, leading to increased Hg concentrations in filter-feeding macrofauna. The input of Hg-rich marine matter transported from the deeper parts of the Gulf of Gdańsk along with the near-bottom currents caused higher Hg levels in deposit feeders. The biomagnification factor (BMF) of Hg through benthic food web was dependent on environmental conditions occurring in the studied areas, in particular, factors favouring the growth and fecundity of macrofauna. Consequently, as a result of biodilution, the trophic transfer of Hg was less effective in a more productive region, despite the elevated Hg concentrations in dietary components of the macrofauna and in the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Marcelina Ziółkowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
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Jędruch A, Bełdowska M, Graca B. Seasonal variation in accumulation of mercury in the benthic macrofauna in a temperate coastal zone (Gulf of Gdańsk). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 164:305-316. [PMID: 30125777 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The main source of toxic mercury (Hg) in the human body is the consumption of fish and seafood. Therefore, it is particularly important to indicate the processes that condition Hg accumulation in marine organisms, especially those in the basal links of the food chain, which are rather poorly investigated compared to top predators. The aim of the study was to determine the seasonal variability of Hg concentrations in macrozoobenthic organisms and the factors that condition it. The research was conducted in 2012-2013 in a temperate coastal zone (Gulf of Gdańsk). The obtained results showed that both Hg concentrations within one trophic level, and their seasonal variation, may differ significantly if the organisms have different feeding habits. The research also indicated that the seasonal variability of Hg level in macrozoobenthos depended on a number of both biotic factors (primary production volume, biomass and rate of fauna metabolism) and abiotic factors (salinity and ionic composition of water, Eh). The variability of Hg concentrations in macrozoobenthos during the study period was different at the research stations, which were subjected to different land influence (e.g. surface run-off, coastal erosion), and consequently differed in the quantity and quality of organic matter. The increased load of suspended particulate matter (SPM) was also an important factor influencing the increase in Hg concentration in macrozoobenthos, regardless of their trophic status. This indicates that SPM is an important source of food for zoobenthos, even in species that prefer a different feeding strategies. The obtained results also showed the role of climate changes observed in the temperate zone - in particular, the warming of the winter season - in shaping the Hg level in macrozoobenthos. The accumulation of Hg in the bottom fauna occurred most intensively in spring immediately after a long period of icing - Hg concentrations were then much higher than those measured after a mild winter, during which the ice cover persisted for a short time. The warming of the winter season and the extension of the vegetation season contributed to an increase in macrozoobenthic biomass, and consequently to the biodilution of Hg, which could have had a negative effect on the Hg load introduced into the trophic chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Bożena Graca
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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Bełdowska M, Kobos J. The variability of Hg concentration and composition of marine phytoplankton. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:30366-30374. [PMID: 30159841 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2948-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic element. It undergoes biomagnification in the marine trophic chain, which is why it is significant to identify the factors influencing its bioaccumulation on the first level of the trophic chain. At present, the input of heavy metals to the southern Baltic is being reduced. On the other hand, the parameters influencing mercury remobilisation in the environment are a subject to a long-time trend associated with climate changes. Examples include growing number of heavy rain events causing surges or floods, and increased frequency of storm winds leading to increased coastal erosion as well as overall temperature increase. The present studies were carried out in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic) for 18 months at two stations (Chałupy and Osłonino) located in the Puck Lagoon, and for 12 months in Gdynia. Climate changes influence the abundance and species composition of phytoplankton, which in consequence has an effect on Hg accumulation and magnification in the trophic chain, and in the human body as a result. Extreme phenomena such as land erosion or floods resulted in an additional inflow of nutrients, but also toxic substances, into the coastal zone. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) increased almost four times after abrasion of cliff. That was conducive to the growth of microflora, as well as increased Hg accumulation. The highest bioconcentration of Hg in phytoplankton was observed when the Mesodinium rubrum (spring and autumn) and Diatomophyceae (winter) prevailed in biomass. The BCF was then almost tenfold higher than during the rest of the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Av. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Justyna Kobos
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Av. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
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Jędruch A, Bełdowska M, Kwasigroch U, Normant-Saremba M, Saniewska D. Mercury fractionation in marine macrofauna using thermodesorption technique: Method and its application. Talanta 2018; 189:534-542. [PMID: 30086956 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most dangerous elements, and its toxicity and ability to accumulate in organisms depend on its chemical form. There are numerous methods of Hg speciation analysis, out of which the least expensive and the least time-consuming one is thermodesorption. The method has been successfully used for the analysis of abiotic samples - soils and sediments. The aim of this study was to verify whether the simplified thermodesorption method can be used in the analysis of the tissues of animal organisms from different trophic levels. Hg fractionation analyses were performed on a DMA-80 analyser (Milestone, Italy). The results presented in this paper are the first published data on Hg fractionation by thermodesorption method in animal tissues. The study showed that the 5-step thermodesorption method can be applied to various types of environmental matrices, which makes it universal. This method is of great importance in terms of estimating the Hg uptake and transfer in the trophic chain, and also enables the assessment of global Hg circulation in the environment. The presented method does not require previous digestion of samples or the use of expensive reagents. It can also be used for the preliminary selection of samples for MeHg analysis. The results obtained by this 5-step fractionation could be comparable with different research, conducted using other Hg analysers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Urszula Kwasigroch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | | | - Dominika Saniewska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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