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Daniels-Abdulahad M, Giarikos D, Adkesson MJ, Hirons AC. Evaluation of Metal Partitioning across Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) Egg Components. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:474-489. [PMID: 38314908 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) population declines are attributable to several multifaceted anthropogenic impacts. At present, the exposure of Humboldt Penguins to high concentrations of heavy metals in the marine environment is a preeminent concern, due to mining along the Peruvian coast near key rookery sites. Metal and selenium concentrations were determined in eggs collected from September 2020 to April 2021 from a managed-care penguin population at the Brookfield Zoo to establish reference values for health indices conducted on wild populations. Concentrations of 16 elements, with emphasis on those found in mine efflux-arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, and zinc-were assessed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in yolk, albumen, and eggshell. Data analyses indicate a clear delineation between egg constituents, with lipid-rich yolk displaying notably higher concentrations (μg/g) of arsenic (0.20 ± 0.064), chromium (0.086 ± 0.03), cobalt (0.01 ± 0.003), iron (238.65 ± 54.72), lead (0.32 ± 0.97), manganese (2.71 ± 0.66), molybdenum (0.57 ± 0.14), tin (3.29 ± 0.99), and zinc (64.03 ± 13.01) than other components (albumen and eggshell). These data confirm that heavy metals are partitioned differently across Humboldt Penguin egg components, which provides insight into the potential connection between embryonic nutrient source contamination and subsequent chick viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mya Daniels-Abdulahad
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 N. Ocean Dr., Dania Beach, Florida 33004, USA
| | - Dimitrios Giarikos
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
- SECLER: Study of Environmental Conservation through Leading-Edge Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
| | - Michael J Adkesson
- Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd., Brookfield, Illinois 60513, USA
| | - Amy C Hirons
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 N. Ocean Dr., Dania Beach, Florida 33004, USA
- SECLER: Study of Environmental Conservation through Leading-Edge Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
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2
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von Hellfeld R, Gade C, Doeschate MT, Davison NJ, Brownlow A, Mbadugha L, Hastings A, Paton G. High resolution visualisation of tiemannite microparticles, essential in the detoxification process of mercury in marine mammals. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123027. [PMID: 38016588 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123027] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The North Sea is an ecologically rich habitat for marine wildlife which has also been impacted by industrial developments and anthropogenic emissions of contaminants such as mercury. Marine mammals are particularly susceptible to mercury exposure, due to their trophic position, long lifespan, and dependence on (increasingly contaminated) aquatic prey species. To mitigate impact, marine mammals can detoxify methylmercury by binding it to selenium-containing biomolecules, creating insoluble mercury selenide granules. Here, liver, kidney, muscle, and brain samples from an adult male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with known elevated mercury concentrations were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tiemannite (HgSe) deposits were identified in all organs, ranging from 400 nm to 5 μm in diameter, with particle size being organ-dependent. Although reported in other studies, this is the first time that the three-dimensional nature of tiemannite is captured in marine mammal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca von Hellfeld
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK; National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), Main Street, AB41 6AA, Newburgh, UK.
| | - Christoph Gade
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK; National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), Main Street, AB41 6AA, Newburgh, UK
| | - Mariel Ten Doeschate
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicolas J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lenka Mbadugha
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Astley Hastings
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Graeme Paton
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK
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Polizzi P, Romero MB, Chiodi Boudet L, Dolagaratz Carricavur A, Gerpe M. What do small cetaceans tell us about trace elements pollution on the Argentinean coast? Franciscana dolphin as a biomonitor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167428. [PMID: 37793446 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167428] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements (TEs) constitute the oldest emerging pollutants globally, most occur from natural sources, but a few are derived from anthropogenic sources. Marine mammals are considered bioindicators of ecosystem contamination. The aims of this review is compile reports on essential and nonessential TEs occurrence in small cetaceans from Argentinean waters; and to review the existing information on the concentration of TEs in the Franciscana dolphin, a biomonitor species of the Argentine coastal marine ecosystem. We searched reports where levels of TEs were present in small cetaceans from and eight species were analysed: Pontoporia blainvillei, Tursiops truncatus gephyreus, Kogia breviceps, Delphinus delphis, Lagenorhynchus obscurus, Lagenodelphis hasei, Cephaloryhchus commersonii and Ziphius cavirostris. Essential TEs like Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, Se, As, Au, Ag, Sn, and nonessential TE as Pb, Cd, Hg, As was considered. The reports compiled in this article analysed kidney, liver, muscle and occasionally brain, skin, lung and spleen, covering a temporal range of 30 years, from 1982 to 2016. Of data analysis, we identify knowledge gaps, species of small cetaceans for which the concentration of trace metals is not yet known and areas on the Argentine coast where there are no reports that analyse them. The most recent information corresponds to the 2010 decade, and in those subsequent publications, the samples were taken at that time. This emphasizes the importance of reviewing this data, in order to compare old and new datasets, create contamination timelines and evaluate possible increases or decreases of contaminants in different study areas. The information recopilated will serve as valuable baselines to detect the future impact of increasing human, even natural, activities on marine ecosystems in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Polizzi
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - M B Romero
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - L Chiodi Boudet
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - A Dolagaratz Carricavur
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - M Gerpe
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
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4
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Symon TE, Murillo-Cisneros DA, Hernández-Camacho CJ, O'Hara TM, Taylor RJ, Rosado-Berrios CA, Vázquez-Medina JP, Zenteno-Savín T. Mercury and selenium concentrations in lanugo of free-ranging California sea lions in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115712. [PMID: 37922756 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115712] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury ([THg]) and selenium ([TSe]) concentrations were determined in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) lanugo from the Gulf of California in 2021 and 2022. Relationships with sex, morphometrics, and year were evaluated. Following toxicological thresholds of concern for piscivorous mammals, most pups had a [THg] < 10 ppm, one pup (2021) had a [THg] > 20 ppm, no pups had a [THg] > 30 ppm. Females had significantly higher [TSe] than males; sex did not influence [THg]. [THg] and [TSe] in 2022 were significantly higher in the general population and male cohorts compared to 2021. Significant negative correlations were observed between [THg], [TSe], and morphometrics (2021). These results indicate that, compared to other pinniped species, regional California sea lions may have a decreased likelihood of experiencing Hg-related adverse health effects. Year-related changes in element concentrations suggest continued monitoring of this population to assess pinniped, environmental, and potentially, human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- T E Symon
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C (CIBNOR), 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
| | - D A Murillo-Cisneros
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C (CIBNOR), 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
| | - C J Hernández-Camacho
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
| | - T M O'Hara
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
| | - R J Taylor
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
| | - C A Rosado-Berrios
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
| | - J P Vázquez-Medina
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720 Berkeley, United States of America.
| | - T Zenteno-Savín
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C (CIBNOR), 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
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Gomes PR, Pestana IA, de Almeida MG, de Rezende CE. The Paraíba do Sul River Basin and its coastal area as a study model of the mercury cycle: A meta-analytical review of three decades of research. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132442. [PMID: 37683351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The Paraíba do Sul River (PSR) Basin is a crucial drainage basin in Southeast Brazil, being the most industrialized and densely populated region in the country. Over the last three decades, the basin has been the subject of numerous studies due to its long history of mercury (Hg) contamination. This makes the PSR Basin an excellent model to evaluate Hg cycling, which is a priority for signatory countries of the Minamata Convention, which includes Brazil. This review compiled data on Hg from five environmental compartments (animals, plants, sediment, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and water), three different sectors (upper, middle, and lower) and five different ecosystems (reservoir, mangrove, fluvial, estuarine, and coastal) from 60 published studies, aiming to understand the Hg cycling through meta-analyses. The highest concentrations of Hg were observed in the upper and middle sectors of the basin, which are areas with high industrialization and urbanization levels. Among the evaluated ecosystems, hydropower reservoirs showed the highest medians and were also frequent in the upper and middle portions of the PSR basin. Over the years, all environmental compartments showed a decline in Hg concentrations due to the implementation of federal and state environmental policies. The main source of Hg for the basin was Hg-rich soils from past activities (such as artisanal small-scale gold mining and the use of organomercurial fungicides in sugarcane plantations). These results can assist decision-makers in the management of the basin's ecosystems and can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Minamata Convention in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipe Ribeiro Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Inácio Abreu Pestana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Gomes de Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Delgado-Suarez I, Lozano-Bilbao E, Hardisson A, Paz S, Gutiérrez ÁJ. Metal and trace element concentrations in cetaceans worldwide: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115010. [PMID: 37167666 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This bibliographical review is a compilation of different scientific publications that reported data on metal concentrations in the muscle tissue of different species of cetaceans from seas and oceans around the world. Forty-nine scientific articles were selected, published over a fifteen-year period (2006-2021) with data on heavy metals and trace elements. The different groups of cetaceans considered in this study generally presented low concentrations of Cd and Pb. The same cannot be said of Hg. The highest concentrations of Hg were found in the groups of false killer whales. Similarly, the use of these groups of cetaceans as bioindicators of metal contamination shows that the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most metallically contaminated areas in the world. This may be due to the closed nature of the Mediterranean Sea and to the fact that it is also a highly populated and industrialized area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira Delgado-Suarez
- Toxicology Area, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Toxicology, Legal and Forensic Medicine and Parasitology, University of La Laguna, 38200, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Enrique Lozano-Bilbao
- Toxicology Area, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Toxicology, Legal and Forensic Medicine and Parasitology, University of La Laguna, 38200, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Arturo Hardisson
- Toxicology Area, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Toxicology, Legal and Forensic Medicine and Parasitology, University of La Laguna, 38200, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Soraya Paz
- Toxicology Area, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Toxicology, Legal and Forensic Medicine and Parasitology, University of La Laguna, 38200, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ángel J Gutiérrez
- Toxicology Area, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Toxicology, Legal and Forensic Medicine and Parasitology, University of La Laguna, 38200, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
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Marumoto M, Sakamoto M, Nakamura M, Marumoto K, Tsuruta S. Organ-specific accumulation of selenium and mercury in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Acta Vet Scand 2022; 64:1. [PMID: 35086557 PMCID: PMC8796142 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-021-00607-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Delphinids are top ocean predators and accumulate high concentrations of mercury (Hg) through the food chain, particularly in organs such as liver and kidney, although the proportion of methylmercury (MeHg) is relatively low due to the demethylation process. Total mercury (T-Hg) levels in marine mammals have been shown to correlate with selenium (Se) concentrations, and ingested MeHg that is demethylated may be present in tissues as mercury selenide (HgSe). In this study, we determined T-Hg, MeHg and Se concentrations of three Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), and we used the individual with the highest Hg concentration for electron probe microanalysis to assess the co-localization of Hg and Se in the tissues. By electron probe microanalysis, we found that Hg and Se were co-localized in large granules in hepatic Kupffer cells and in small granules in hepatocytes. The analysis suggested that MeHg was demethylated in hepatocytes and then phagocytosed by Kupffer cells. In the kidney, Hg and Se were co-localized in the glomerular capillary wall and in interstitial blood vessel walls. Hg and Se were also co-localized in the cytoplasm of large neurons and in glial cells in the cerebrum. Divalent Hg and HgSe cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, suggesting that MeHg is demethylated in the dolphin brain and that binding to Se suppresses Hg toxicity.
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Manhães BMR, Santos-Neto EB, Tovar LR, Guari EB, Flach L, Kasper D, Galvão PMA, Malm O, Gonçalves RA, Bisi TL, Azevedo AF, Lailson-Brito J. Changes in mercury distribution and its body burden in delphinids affected by a morbillivirus infection: Evidences of methylmercury intoxication in Guiana dolphin. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:128286. [PMID: 33297230 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An unusual mortality event (UME) attributed to morbillivirus infection was identified in two Guiana dolphin populations from the Southeastern Brazilian coast. The aim of this study was to characterize total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) bioaccumulation and body burden in Guiana dolphins from Sepetiba Bay (RJ) collected before (n = 61) and during the UME (n = 20). Significantly lower Se concentrations were found in the livers of individuals collected during the UME (Mann-Whitney test; p = 0.03), probably due to impairment of the detoxification process in the liver. There were differences in THg and Se concentrations in the organs and tissues of individuals (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05), but not MeHg (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.07). For THg, the liver showed the higher concentrations and differed among organs and tissues analyzed such as blubber (Tukey's test for unequal N; p = 0.003). For Se concentrations, the skin and kidney presented the higher concentrations and varied among other tissues/organs, like muscle (Tukey's test for unequal N; p = 0.02). Differences in body burdens were observed among specimens collected previously and during the UME probably due to the remobilization and transport of the muscle-stored MeHg to other tissues/organs. This abrupt input of MeHg into the bloodstream may cause serious health damage. Indeed, evidences of methylmercury intoxication was observed in Guiana dolphins in Sepetiba Bay. In conclusion, bioaccumulation patterns, the detoxification process and body burden were affected by morbillivirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas (Biofísica), Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CEP 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - E B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - L R Tovar
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - E B Guari
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - L Flach
- Instituto Boto Cinza, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Av. Do Canal, 141, Brasilinha, CEP 23860-000, Itacuruçá, Mangaratiba, RJ, Brazil
| | - D Kasper
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 Sala G0-61, CEP 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - P M A Galvão
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 Sala G0-61, CEP 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - O Malm
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 Sala G0-61, CEP 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - R A Gonçalves
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Catolica Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente 225, CEP 22451-900, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - T L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - A F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - J Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores ''Prof(a). Izabel Gurgel'' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas (Biofísica), Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CEP 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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9
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McCormack MA, Jackson BP, Dutton J. Relationship between mercury and selenium concentrations in tissues from stranded odontocetes in the northern Gulf of Mexico. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141350. [PMID: 33370896 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Odontocetes are apex predators that, despite accumulating mercury (Hg) to high concentrations in their tissues, show few signs of Hg toxicity. One method of Hg detoxification in odontocetes includes the sequestering of Hg in toxicologically inert mercury selenide (HgSe) compounds. To explore the tissue-specific accumulation of Hg and Se and the potential protective role of Se against Hg toxicity, we measured the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se) in multiple tissues from 11 species of odontocetes that stranded along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast [Florida (FL) and Louisiana (LA)]. Tissues were collected primarily from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus; n = 93); however, individuals from species in the following 8 genera were also sampled: Feresa (n = 1), Globicephala (n = 1), Grampus (n = 2), Kogia (n = 5), Mesoplodon (n = 1), Peponocephala (n = 4), Stenella (n = 9), and Steno (n = 1). In all species, mean THg concentrations were greatest in the liver and lowest in the blubber, lung, or skin. In contrast, in most species, mean Se concentrations were greatest in the liver, lung, or skin, and lowest in the blubber. For all species combined, Se:Hg molar ratios decreased with increasing THg concentration in the blubber, kidney, liver, lung, and skin following an exponential decay relationship. In bottlenose dolphins, THg concentrations in the kidney, liver, and lung were significantly greater in FL dolphins compared to LA dolphins. On average, in bottlenose dolphins, Se:Hg molar ratios were approximately 1:1 in the liver and >1:1 in blubber, kidney, lung, and skin, suggesting that Se likely protects against Hg toxicity. However, more research is necessary to understand the variation in Hg accumulation within and among species and to assess how Hg, in combination with other environmental stressors, influences odontocete population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan A McCormack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Jessica Dutton
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
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Zhang H, Guo C, Feng H, Shen Y, Wang Y, Zeng T, Song S. Total mercury, methylmercury, and selenium in aquatic products from coastal cities of China: Distribution characteristics and risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:140034. [PMID: 32758950 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140034] [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: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study analyzed total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) in 114 aquatic product samples (representing 39 species) from eight coastal cities of China. The THg and MeHg levels in different parts of the same sample species were in the order of muscle ≥ skin/shell > roe, whereas Se levels were much higher in roe. Concentrations of THg, MeHg, and Se in the muscles were between 2.27-154, 0.36-135, and 57.8-1.20 × 103 ng g-1 wet weight (ww), respectively. Although significant differences in analyte concentrations were not observed among cities, they existed among three species; marine fish, freshwater fish, and shellfish. Shellfish had generally lower Hg content (mean: 20.2 ng g-1 ww THg, 6.71 ng g-1 ww MeHg, and 30.9% MeHg/THg ratio); however it had higher Se content (528 ng g-1 ww) than the other types of fish (mean: 33.3 ng g-1 ww THg, 28.2 ng g-1 ww MeHg, and 79.2% MeHg/THg ratio, 257 ng g-1 ww Se). In addition to species, the individual growth and HgSe interaction influenced Hg distribution. Evident correlations were observed between several individual body features and Hg content, and between Se and THg concentrations (p < 0.05). The greater correlation coefficient between two elements for fish indicated stronger HgSe antagonism through HgSe compound formation in fish. Relatively low THg daily intakes (mean 0.013-0.080 μg kg-1 day-1) and MeHg daily intakes (0.006-0.065 μg kg-1 day-1) along with Se:Hg molar ratios >1 and positive HBVSe values suggest that aquatic products from these sites will not pose immediate health problems to consumers. Fish was the dominating contributor for MeHg intake whereas shellfish was the dominating contributor for Se intake. To safeguard against mercury exposure, residents in these areas can appropriately increase shellfish intake (especially bivalves), rather than exclusively consuming marine fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Chenqi Guo
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Hongru Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yanting Shen
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Yaotian Wang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Tao Zeng
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Shuang Song
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China.
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11
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Durante CA, Moura Reis BM, Azevedo A, Crespo EA, Lailson-Brito J. Trace elements in trophic webs from South Atlantic: The use of cetaceans as sentinels. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110674. [PMID: 31726239 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The odontocetes are at the top of the trophic chains, and because they accumulate numerous compounds throughout life, they are considered as bioindicators of ecosystem contamination. This study aimed to analyze the concentrations of trace elements of the short-beak common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Regardless of the tissue and the species, the average concentration of silver was the lowest. The highest concentration in the kidney was cadmium, while in the liver it varied between selenium and total mercury according to the species. The bioconcentration process was present in relation with the age and standard length in common dolphins. Additionally, Se-HgT molar ratios differed among species. This study provides new information on the current state of pollution by trace elements in common and Fraser's dolphins in the Southwest Atlantic, and it serves as a complement to the work in tropical waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Alberto Durante
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR) - Centro Nacional Patagónico - CONICET, Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Barbara Manhaes Moura Reis
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Profa. Izabel Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, 20530-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Alexandre Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Profa. Izabel Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, 20530-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Enrique Alberto Crespo
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR) - Centro Nacional Patagónico - CONICET, Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Profa. Izabel Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, 20530-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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12
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Kershaw JL, Hall AJ. Mercury in cetaceans: Exposure, bioaccumulation and toxicity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 694:133683. [PMID: 31394330 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The fate and transportation of mercury in the marine environment are driven by a combination of anthropogenic atmospheric and aquatic sources, as well as natural geological inputs. Mercury biomagnifies up the food chain, resulting in the bioaccumulation of toxic concentrations in higher trophic organisms even when concentrations in their habitat remain below the threshold level for direct toxicity. As a result, mercury exposure has been recognised as a health concern for both humans and top marine predators, including cetaceans. There appears to be no overall trend in the global measured concentrations reported in cetaceans between 1975 and 2010, although differences between areas show that the highest concentrations in recent decades have been measured in the tissues of Mediterranean odontocetes. There is increasing concern for the impacts of mercury on the Arctic marine ecosystem with changes in water temperatures, ocean currents, and prey availability, all predicted to affect exposure. The accumulation of mercury in various tissues has been linked to renal and hepatic damage as well as reported neurotoxic, genotoxic, and immunotoxic effects. These effects have been documented through studies on stranded and by-caught cetaceans as well as in vitro cell culture experiments. Demethylation of methylmercury and protection by selenium have been suggested as possible mercury detoxification mechanisms in cetaceans that may explain the very high concentrations measured in tissues of some species with no apparent acute toxicity. Thus, the ratio of selenium to mercury is of importance when aiming to determine the impact of the contaminant load at an individual level. The long-term population level effects of mercury exposure are unknown, and continued monitoring of odontocete populations in particular is advised in order to predict the consequences of mercury uptake on marine food chains in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L Kershaw
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK.
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
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13
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Martínez-López E, Peñalver J, Lara L, García-Fernández AJ. Hg and Se in Organs of Three Cetacean Species from the Murcia Coastline (Mediterranean Sea). BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 103:521-527. [PMID: 31473774 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02697-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We determinated Hg and Se concentrations in liver, kidney, brain, lung and muscle of five bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), four common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and four Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) stranded along the Murcia coast, Southeast Spain, in order to evaluate the risk of Hg toxicity. Hg concentrations showed similar concentrations to other individuals in the Mediterranean Sea with the same length in the same period. We observed a positive correlation of Hg and Se in liver (r = 0.948, p < 0.001) and kidney (r = 0.939; p = 0.001) and ratio the Se/Hg molar was higher than 1 in most cases. Our results suggest that the protective effects of Se against Hg toxicity occur in cetaceans. However, we detected levels of Hg described as responsible liver damage and neurotoxicological effects so other tools, as biochemical markers, should be included. Besides, more studies are needed to evaluate the risk of Hg exposure in dolphins from Murcia coastline.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Martínez-López
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - J Peñalver
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (CARM), Murcia, Spain
| | - L Lara
- "El Valle" Wildlife Recovery Center (CARM), Murcia, Spain
| | - A J García-Fernández
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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14
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Moura JF, Tavares DC, Lemos LS, Acevedo-Trejos E, Saint'Pierre TD, Siciliano S, Merico A. Interspecific variation of essential and non-essential trace elements in sympatric seabirds. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 242:470-479. [PMID: 30005259 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Chemical pollution is a growing issue for ocean ecosystems, threatening especially apex predators because they bioaccumulate persistent chemical pollutants such as non-essential trace elements. The trophic position is thus a key aspect when assessing the impacts of environmental pollution in marine organisms. Here we investigate the differences in the concentrations of essential (Cu, Cr, Se, and Zn) and non-essential elements (Hg, Al, As, Cd, and Sr), in muscular and hepatic tissues of four sympatric non-migratory seabirds (namely Sula leucogaster, Larus dominicanus, Fregata magnificens, and Thalasseus acuflavidus), which were found stranded along the Brazilian coast. The observed hepatic and muscular interspecific differences in elemental concentrations indicated that these sympatric seabirds are differently exposed to persistent contaminants circulating in the food web due to differences with respect to known feeding behaviours and prey preferences. Moreover, we found a consistent co-accumulative relationship between Se and Hg molar levels in liver tissues with mean Se:Hg molar ratio above 1. This relationship supports previous studies indicating that Se, via the formation of SeHg complexes, plays an essential biochemical role in the detoxification process of methyl mercury in seabirds. Our results suggest that feeding behaviour is an important factor associated to the interspecific differences of trace element concentrations in seabirds. However, traits other than feeding preferences (e.g. age) may also play an important role in the accumulation of these elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jailson F Moura
- Systems Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Davi C Tavares
- Systems Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Leila S Lemos
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, 97365, USA
| | | | | | | | - Agostino Merico
- Systems Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Physics & Earth Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
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15
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Rojo-Nieto E, Fernández-Maldonado C. Assessing trace elements in striped dolphins from the Strait of Gibraltar: Clues to link the bioaccumulation in the westernmost Mediterranean Sea area and nearest Atlantic Ocean. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 170:41-50. [PMID: 27974270 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.009] [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: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Dolphins are considered sentinel species in the marine environment. The Strait of Gibraltar is the only passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, being the transitional region which connects these two basins and one of the most important routes of cetacean migration worldwide. In this work, eight trace elements (TE) were studied in 45 samples of liver, kidney and muscle, from 15 specimens stranded in this study area. The preliminary results show, among others, the patterns of distribution of the TE in the target organs studied, the influence of sex, length and developmental stage in these TE concentrations and the Se/Hg ratio. Subsequently, the results of TE concentrations in liver have being compared to previous data on S. coeruleoalba from the westernmost Mediterranean Sea and the nearest Atlantic Ocean. For some elements (e.g. for As), concentrations are similar to those obtained from Atlantic samples, despite in other cases (e.g. for Cd) results are lined up with those observed in Mediterranean studies. In addition, in the case of some TE (e.g. Se and Zn) the results are in the middle of those reported for both basins, reinforcing the idea of the Strait of Gibraltar being a transitional zone. Present study is the first research regarding this issue in this outstanding region, aiming to give insights of how this matchless area can help to link TE concentrations observed in these Atlantic and Mediterranean threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rojo-Nieto
- Department of Environmental Technologies, Andalusian Center for Marine Science and Technology (CACYTMAR/INMAR), International Campus of Excellence of the Sea, University of Cádiz, Spain; Stranding-Supporting Network, DELPHIS - Ecologistas en Acción Cádiz, c/ San Alejandro s/n., Puerto Real, Spain.
| | - Carolina Fernández-Maldonado
- Center for the Management of the Marine Environment (CEGMA), Andalusian Agency for Environment and Water, (Andalusian Environmental and Spatial Planning Council), Avda. Johan Gütemberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
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16
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Baptista G, Kehrig HA, Di Beneditto APM, Hauser-Davis RA, Almeida MG, Rezende CE, Siciliano S, de Moura JF, Moreira I. Mercury, selenium and stable isotopes in four small cetaceans from the Southeastern Brazilian coast: Influence of feeding strategy. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 218:1298-1307. [PMID: 27593348 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Dolphins are good bioindicators of the contamination status of marine ecosystems, since their dietary and habitat plasticity in both coastal and offshore ecotypes provide information on the trace elements levels originated from natural and anthropogenic sources. In this context, this study aimed to investigate provides mercury (Hg), selenium (Se) levels, trophic ecology and feeding environments of four small cetaceans (Tursiops truncatus, Steno bredanensis, Sotalia guianensis and Pontoporia blainvillei) inhabiting the central-northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. For the latter, δ15N and δ13C stable isotopes were used as indicators in this regard. Stable isotope values indicate that the four studied species have distinctive foraging habitats, coastal and least coastal, and occupy different trophic positions. The significant relationship found between muscle Hg and δ15N suggests that individual foraging preference remains relatively constant for the studied dolphin species over extended periods. The individual prey size and species are probably responsible for the differences found in Hg and Se concentrations in muscle tissue among all dolphin species. The vulnerable small coastal cetacean, P. blainvillei, which feeds on small teleost fish and squid, presented the lowest muscular Hg concentrations (less than 3.5 μg g-1 dry wt.). Meanwhile, S. bredanensis is more likely to uptake large amounts of trace elements among the four dolphin species, due to its feeding habits mainly being large offshore fish that accumulate high amounts of trace elements in organs and tissues. Differences found between Hg concentrations in fetus-mother pairs were much higher in S. guianensis than in P. blainvillei, suggesting that maternal contribution of Hg via placenta was more significant for the former.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Baptista
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Helena A Kehrig
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Ana Paula M Di Beneditto
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Rachel A Hauser-Davis
- Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biodiversidade Neotropical, 22290-240, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo G Almeida
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Carlos E Rezende
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Salvatore Siciliano
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Pavilhão Mourisco - sala 122, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360, Brazil.
| | - Jailson F de Moura
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology - ZMT, Bremen, 28359, Germany.
| | - Isabel Moreira
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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17
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Cáceres-Saez I, Polizzi P, Romero B, Dellabianca NA, Ribeiro Guevara S, Goodall RNP, Cappozzo HL, Gerpe M. Hepatic and renal metallothionein concentrations in Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) from Tierra del Fuego, South Atlantic Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 108:263-267. [PMID: 27072824 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.061] [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: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Commerson's dolphin is the most common endemic odontocete of subantarctic waters of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina incidentally caught in fishing nets. The species is classified as "Data Deficient" by the IUCN. Metallothioneins (MTs) are considered as suitable biomarkers for health and environmental monitoring. The aims of the study were to assess MT concentrations in the liver and kidney of bycaught specimens. Moreover, correlations with Zn, Se, Cd, Ag and Hg, and the molar ratios of MT:metals were estimated to evaluate if there is an indication of their respective protective role against metal toxicity in tissues. Hepatic and renal MT concentrations were similar, ranging from 11.6 to 29.1nmol·g(-1) WW, and Kidney/Liver ratios ranging from 0.73 to 1.93 corresponded to normal ranges. Results suggest that MTs are related to physiological ranges for the species. This information constitutes the first MT report on Commerson's dolphins and possibly considered as baseline for species' conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Cáceres-Saez
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Comportamiento y Mamíferos Marinos, División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia", Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44 (9410), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.
| | - Paula Polizzi
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, (CP 7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Belén Romero
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, (CP 7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Natalia A Dellabianca
- Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44 (9410), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Bernardo Houssay 200, (CP 9410), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
| | - Sergio Ribeiro Guevara
- Laboratorio de Análisis por Activación Neutrónica, Centro Atómico Bariloche, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Av. E. Bustillo 9.500, (CP8400), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - R Natalie P Goodall
- Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44 (9410), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Bernardo Houssay 200, (CP 9410), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
| | - H Luis Cappozzo
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Comportamiento y Mamíferos Marinos, División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia", Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775 piso 7, (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcela Gerpe
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, (CP 7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina
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18
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García-Alvarez N, Fernández A, Boada LD, Zumbado M, Zaccaroni A, Arbelo M, Sierra E, Almunia J, Luzardo OP. Mercury and selenium status of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): A study in stranded animals on the Canary Islands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 536:489-498. [PMID: 26232758 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The mercury (Hg) level in the marine environment has tripled in recent decades, becoming a great concern because of its high toxic potential. This study reports Hg and selenium (Se) status, and the first Se/Hg molar ratio assessment in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting the waters of the Canary Islands. Total Hg and Se concentrations were determined in the blubber and liver collected from 30 specimens stranded along the coasts of the archipelago from 1997 to 2013. The median values for total Hg in the blubber and liver were 80.83 and 223.77 μg g(-1) dry weight (dw), and the median levels for Se in both tissues were 7.29 and 68.63 μg g(-1) dw, respectively. Hg concentrations in the liver were lower than 100 μg g(-1) wet weight (ww), comparable to those obtained in bottlenose dolphins from the North Sea, the Western Atlantic Ocean and several locations in the Pacific Ocean. The Mediterranean Sea and South of Australia are the most contaminated areas for both elements in this cetacean species. In addition, it must be stressed that the levels of Hg and Se in the liver showed an increasing trend with the age of the animals. As expected, a strong positive correlation between Hg and Se was observed (rs=0.960). Surprisingly, both younger and older specimens had a Se/Hg molar ratio different from 1, suggesting that these individuals may be at greater toxicological risk for high concentrations of both elements or a deficiency of Se without a protective action against Hg toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia García-Alvarez
- Unit of Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Unit of Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Luis D Boada
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Zumbado
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Research Group on Large Pelagic Vertebrates, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, FC, Italy
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Unit of Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Eva Sierra
- Unit of Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Javier Almunia
- Loro Parque Foundation, Camino Burgado, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Octavio P Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Sakamoto M, Itai T, Yasutake A, Iwasaki T, Yasunaga G, Fujise Y, Nakamura M, Murata K, Chan HM, Domingo JL, Marumoto M. Mercury speciation and selenium in toothed-whale muscles. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 143:55-61. [PMID: 26436307 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mercury accumulates at high levels in marine mammal tissues. However, its speciation is poorly understood. The main goal of this investigation was to establish the relationships among mercury species and selenium (Se) concentrations in toothed-whale muscles at different mercury levels. The concentrations of total mercury (T-Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), inorganic mercury (I-Hg) and Se were determined in the muscles of four toothed-whale species: bottlenose dolphins (n=31), Risso's dolphins (n=30), striped dolphins (n=29), and short-finned pilot whales (n=30). In each species, the MeHg concentration increased with increasing T-Hg concentration, tending to reach a plateau. In contrast, the proportion of MeHg in T-Hg decreased from 90-100% to 20-40%. The levels of T-Hg and Se showed strong positive correlations. Se/I-Hg molar ratios rapidly decreased with the increase of I-Hg and reached almost 1 in all species. These results suggested that the demethylated MeHg immediately formed Se/I-Hg equimolar complex of mercury selenide (HgSe) in their muscles. In addition, an X-ray absorption fine structure analysis (XAFS) of a bottlenose dolphin muscle confirmed that the dominant chemical form of the Se/I-Hg equimolar complex was HgSe. HgSe was mainly localized in cells near the endomysium using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). These results suggested that the demethylated MeHg finally deposits within muscle cells of bottlenose dolphin as an inert HgSe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mineshi Sakamoto
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Hama 4058-18, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan.
| | - Takaaki Itai
- Ehime University, Bunkyo 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8755, Japan
| | - Akira Yasutake
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Hama 4058-18, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
| | - Toshihide Iwasaki
- Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute, 25-259 Shimomekurakubo, Aomori 031-0841, Japan
| | - Genta Yasunaga
- Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Fujise
- Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Masaaki Nakamura
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Hama 4058-18, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
| | - Katsuyuki Murata
- Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Hing Man Chan
- University of Ottawa, Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada KIN 6N5
| | - José L Domingo
- School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat "Rovira i Virgili", Reus, Spain
| | - Masumi Marumoto
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Hama 4058-18, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
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Cáceres-Saez I, Goodall RNP, Dellabianca NA, Cappozzo HL, Ribeiro Guevara S. The skin of Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) as a biomonitor of mercury and selenium in Subantarctic waters. CHEMOSPHERE 2015; 138:735-743. [PMID: 26267259 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.07.026] [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: 05/03/2015] [Revised: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The skin of bycaught Commerson's dolphins was tested for mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) biomonitoring in Subantarctic environments. The correlation of levels detected in the skin with those found in internal tissues - lung, liver, kidney and muscle - was assessed to evaluate how skin represents internal Hg and Se distribution for monitoring purposes. Mercury in skin had a concentration range of 0.68-3.11 μg g(-1) dry weight (DW), while Se had a higher concentration range of 74.3-124.5 μg g(-1) DW. There was no significant correlation between selenium levels in any of the analyzed tissues. Thus, the skin selenium concentration did not reflect the tissular Se levels and did not provide information for biomonitoring. The lack of correlation is explained by the biological role of Se, provided that each tissue regulates Se levels according to physiological needs. However, the skin Hg level had significant positive correlation with the levels in internal tissues (ANOVA p<0.05), particularly with that of muscle (R(2)=0.79; ANOVA p=0.0008). Thus, this correlation permits the estimation of Hg content in muscle based on the multiplication of skin biopsy levels by a factor of 1.85. Mercury bioindication using skin biopsies is a non-lethal approach that allows screening of a large number of specimens with little disturbance and makes possible an adequate sampling strategy that produces statistically valid results in populations and study areas. The correlation between Hg levels in the skin and internal tissues supports the use of the epidermis of Commerson's dolphins for Hg biomonitoring in the waters of the Subantarctic, which is a poorly studied region regarding Hg levels, sources and processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Cáceres-Saez
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Comportamiento y Mamíferos Marinos (LECyMM), División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN-CONICET), Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina; Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
| | - R Natalie P Goodall
- Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Houssay 200, V9410BFD Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
| | - Natalia A Dellabianca
- Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Houssay 200, V9410BFD Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
| | - H Luis Cappozzo
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Comportamiento y Mamíferos Marinos (LECyMM), División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN-CONICET), Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico (CEBBAD), Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropología, Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sergio Ribeiro Guevara
- Laboratorio de Análisis por Activación Neutrónica, Centro Atómico Bariloche-Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CAB-CNEA), Av. E. Bustillo 9500, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina.
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21
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Gui D, Yu RQ, Sun Y, Chen L, Tu Q, Mo H, Wu Y. Mercury and selenium in stranded Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and implications for their trophic transfer in food chains. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110336. [PMID: 25310100 PMCID: PMC4195725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As top predators in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) of China, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) are bioindicators for examining regional trends of environmental contaminants in the PRE. We examined samples from stranded S. chinensis in the PRE, collected since 2004, to study the distribution and fate of total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) in the major tissues, in individuals at different ages and their prey fishes from the PRE. This study also investigated the potential protective effects of Se against the toxicities of accumulated THg. Dolphin livers contained the highest concentrations of THg (32.34±58.98 µg g−1 dw) and Se (15.16±3.66 µg g−1 dw), which were significantly different from those found in kidneys and muscles, whereas the highest residue of MeHg (1.02±1.11 µg g−1 dw) was found in dolphin muscles. Concentrations of both THg and MeHg in the liver, kidney and muscle of dolphins showed a significantly positive correlation with age. The biomagnification factors (BMFs) of inorganic mercury (Hginorg) in dolphin livers (350×) and MeHg in muscles (18.7×) through the prey fishes were the highest among all three dolphin tissues, whereas the BMFs of Se were much lower in all dolphin tissues. The lower proportion of MeHg in THg and higher Se/THg ratios in tissues were demonstrated. Our studies suggested that S. chinensis might have the potential to detoxify Hg via the demethylation of MeHg and the formation of tiemannite (HgSe) in the liver and kidney. The lower threshold of hepatic THg concentrations for the equimolar accumulation of Se and Hg in S. chinensis suggests that this species has a greater sensitivity to THg concentrations than is found in striped dolphins and Dall’s porpoises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duan Gui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ri-Qing Yu
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yong Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Laiguo Chen
- Urban Environment and Ecology Research Center, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences (SCIES), Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin Tu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Mo
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuping Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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