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Rosenbaum D, Montaña CG, Zhang Y, Chumchal MM, Saenz D, Schalk CM. Intraspecific Variation in Mercury Contamination of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1903-1913. [PMID: 38804646 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Macrochelys temminckii (alligator snapping turtle) is an aquatic turtle endemic to the southeastern United States that was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 2021. In the present study we analyzed total mercury (THg) concentrations in skeletal muscle, tail clips, and nail tissue of 93 M. temminckii sampled from 14 waterbodies in eastern Texas (USA). Our objectives were to assess (1) the degree of correlation between internal tissue (skeletal muscle and tail clip samples) and keratin (nail samples), (2) the influence of ecological factors (turtle size and waterbody/sampling site) on THg concentrations, and (3) whether THg concentrations were high enough to pose a risk to human consumers. The mean (±SE) THg concentrations of muscle and nail were 1.16 ± 0.08 μg/g dry weight and 4.21 ± 0.24 μg/g dry weight, respectively, and THg concentrations were highly dependent on the sampling site. The THg concentrations of nails were correlated with muscle concentrations (R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001). The effect of body size on THg concentrations varied by sampling site, indicating that size is not a good predictor of Hg concentration across sites. Finally, THg concentrations in M. temminckii of eastern Texas were high enough to pose a potential risk to human health based on US Environmental Protection Agency dietary guidelines. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1903-1913. © 2024 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Rosenbaum
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Carmen G Montaña
- Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Yanli Zhang
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew M Chumchal
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel Saenz
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Christopher M Schalk
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
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2
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Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Lyman S, Horvat M, Gay DA, Gačnik J, Gratz L, Kempkes G, Khalizov A, Lin CJ, Lindberg SE, Lown L, Martin L, Mason RP, MacSween K, Vijayakumaran Nair S, Nguyen LSP, O'Neil T, Sommar J, Weiss-Penzias P, Zhang L, Živković I. Measurement of Atmospheric Mercury: Current Limitations and Suggestions for Paths Forward. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12853-12864. [PMID: 38982755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) researchers have made progress in understanding atmospheric Hg, especially with respect to oxidized Hg (HgII) that can represent 2 to 20% of Hg in the atmosphere. Knowledge developed over the past ∼10 years has pointed to existing challenges with current methods for measuring atmospheric Hg concentrations and the chemical composition of HgII compounds. Because of these challenges, atmospheric Hg experts met to discuss limitations of current methods and paths to overcome them considering ongoing research. Major conclusions included that current methods to measure gaseous oxidized and particulate-bound Hg have limitations, and new methods need to be developed to make these measurements more accurate. Developing analytical methods for measurement of HgII chemistry is challenging. While the ultimate goal is the development of ultrasensitive methods for online detection of HgII directly from ambient air, in the meantime, new surfaces are needed on which HgII can be quantitatively collected and from which it can be reversibly desorbed to determine HgII chemistry. Discussion and identification of current limitations, described here, provide a basis for paths forward. Since the atmosphere is the means by which Hg is globally distributed, accurately calibrated measurements are critical to understanding the Hg biogeochemical cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mae Sexauer Gustin
- College of Biotechnology, Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Sarrah M Dunham-Cheatham
- College of Biotechnology, Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Seth Lyman
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, Vernal, Utah 84078, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, United States
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - David A Gay
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7996, United States
| | - Jan Gačnik
- College of Biotechnology, Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Lynne Gratz
- Chemistry Department and Environmental Studies Program, Reed College, Portland, Oregon 97202, United States
| | | | - Alexei Khalizov
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Steven E Lindberg
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Livia Lown
- College of Biotechnology, Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Lynwill Martin
- South Africa Weather Service, Cape Town 7525, South Africa
| | - Robert Peter Mason
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Katrina MacSween
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Sreekanth Vijayakumaran Nair
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Ly Sy Phu Nguyen
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000,Vietnam
| | - Trevor O'Neil
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, Vernal, Utah 84078, United States
| | - Jonas Sommar
- Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China
| | - Peter Weiss-Penzias
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Igor Živković
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
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3
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Bolan S, Padhye LP, Jasemizad T, Govarthanan M, Karmegam N, Wijesekara H, Amarasiri D, Hou D, Zhou P, Biswal BK, Balasubramanian R, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Rinklebe J, Kirkham MB, Bolan N. Impacts of climate change on the fate of contaminants through extreme weather events. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168388. [PMID: 37956854 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The direct impacts of climate change involve a multitude of phenomena, including rising sea levels, intensified severe weather events such as droughts and flooding, increased temperatures leading to wildfires, and unpredictable fluctuations in rainfall. This comprehensive review intends to examine firstly the probable consequences of climate change on extreme weather events such as drought, flood and wildfire. This review subsequently examines the release and transformation of contaminants in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments in response to extreme weather events driven by climate change. While drought and flood influence the dynamics of inorganic and organic contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic environments, thereby influencing their mobility and transport, wildfire results in the release and spread of organic contaminants in the atmosphere. There is a nascent awareness of climate change's influence of climate change-induced extreme weather events on the dynamics of environmental contaminants in the scientific community and decision-making processes. The remediation industry, in particular, lags behind in adopting adaptive measures for managing contaminated environments affected by climate change-induced extreme weather events. However, recognizing the need for assessment measures represents a pivotal first step towards fostering more adaptive practices in the management of contaminated environments. We highlight the urgency of collaboration between environmental chemists and climate change experts, emphasizing the importance of jointly assessing the fate of contaminants and rigorous action to augment risk assessment and remediation strategies to safeguard the health of our environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Bolan
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia
| | - Lokesh P Padhye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Tahereh Jasemizad
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Muthusamy Govarthanan
- Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, South Korea; Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - N Karmegam
- PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem 636 007, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Hasintha Wijesekara
- Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka
| | - Dhulmy Amarasiri
- Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Pingfan Zhou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Basanta Kumar Biswal
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Rajasekhar Balasubramanian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Hailong Wang
- Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, People's Republic of China
| | - Kadambot H M Siddique
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - M B Kirkham
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia.
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Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Osterwalder S, Magand O, Dommergue A. What is the utility of measuring gaseous Hg II dry deposition using Aerohead samplers?: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167895. [PMID: 37866618 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The most efficient way to quantify HgII inputs to ecosystems is to measure wet and dry deposition. Wet deposition of HgII is determined by measuring Hg concentrations and the volume of precipitation. Dry deposition of HgII is determined through direct measurement and/or determined indirectly by measuring air concentrations and using model-generated deposition velocities. Here, data collected using an Aerohead sampler holding cation exchange membranes are summarized, and the utility of this method for understanding dry deposition, and other measurements and processes is discussed. This analysis includes information from publications, and recent data collected at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA, and Amsterdam Island, Southern Indian Ocean. This method primarily measures gaseous HgII and little particulate-bound Hg. The Aerohead method is useful for looking at large-scale trends in deposition, verifying Hg depletion events, calculating dry deposition velocities for compounds with specific chemistry, and identification of sources of HgII. At numerous locations in the western USA, deposition rates were greater at higher elevations due to elevated concentrations associated with long-range transport of atmospheric pollution. When used in tandem with the Reactive Mercury Active System or a dual-channel system, more accurate deposition velocities - that vary as a function of GOM compound chemistry - can be calculated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno.
| | - Sarrah M Dunham-Cheatham
- College of Biotechnology, Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP (Institute of Engineering and Management Univ. Grenoble Alpes), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France; Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Magand
- Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers à La Réunion (OSU-R), UAR 3365, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo France, 97744 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP (Institute of Engineering and Management Univ. Grenoble Alpes), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
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5
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Chen CY, Evers DC. Global mercury impact synthesis: Processes in the Southern Hemisphere. AMBIO 2023; 52:827-832. [PMID: 36917434 PMCID: PMC10073386 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01842-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Celia Y. Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH USA
| | - David C. Evers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH USA
- Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME USA
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6
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Berdugo MB, Dovciak M, Kimmerer RW, Driscoll CT. The Roles of the Moss Layer in Mediating Tree Seedling Environmental Stress, Mercury Exposure, and Regeneration in High-Elevation Conifer Forests. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00806-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe persistence of future forests depends on the success of tree seedlings which are experiencing increasing physiological stress from changing climate and air pollution. Although the moss layer can serve as an important substrate for tree seedlings, its potential for reducing environmental stress and enhancing the establishment of seedlings remains poorly understood. We tested if the moss layer decreased environmental stress and increased the abundance of balsam fir seedlings dominant in high-elevation forests of northeastern United States that are sensitive to changing climate and mercury deposition. We surveyed balsam fir seedling density by substrate (moss, litter, other) on 120 quadrats (1 × 1 m) in two contrasting canopy environments (in gaps and under canopies), measured seedling stress, and quantified mercury content in seedlings and substrates. We observed that, in both canopy environments, tree seedlings established on moss exhibited (i) increased density, (ii) decreased physiological stress, and (iii) higher potential to recruit into larger size classes, compared to seedlings established in litter. Regardless of canopy environment, seedling foliar mercury levels did not correspond to substrate mercury despite large differences in substrate mercury concentrations (relative to moss, litter concentrations were ~ 4-times greater and soil concentrations were ~ 6-times greater), likely reflecting the dominance of foliar over root uptake of mercury. Because the moss layer appeared to mitigate seedling drought stress, and to increase seedling establishment and recruitment compared to other substrates, these microsite effects should be considered in models predicting forest regeneration and dynamics under increased drought stress associated with the ongoing climate warming.
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Silman AK, Chhabria R, Hafzalla GW, Giffin L, Kucharski K, Myers K, Culquichicón C, Montero S, Lescano AG, Vega CM, Fernandez LE, Silman MR, Kane MJ, Sanders JW. Impairment in Working Memory and Executive Function Associated with Mercury Exposure in Indigenous Populations in Upper Amazonian Peru. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10989. [PMID: 36078698 PMCID: PMC9517927 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Matsigenka people living traditional lifestyles in remote areas of the Amazon rely on a fish-based diet that exposes them to methylmercury (MeHg) at levels that have been associated with decreased IQ scores. In this study, the association between Hg levels and working memory was explored using the framework of the Multicomponent Model. Working memory tasks were modified to fit the culture and language of the Matsigenka when needed and included measures for verbal storage (Word Span) visuospatial storage (Corsi Block Task) and a measure of executive functions, the Self-Ordered Pointing Task (SOPT). An innovation of the Trail Making Tests A & B (TMT A & B) was pilot tested as another potential measure of executive functions. The mean hair Hg levels of 30 participants, ages 12 to 55 years, from three different communities (Maizal, Cacaotal and Yomibato) was 7.0 ppm (sd = 2.40), well above the World Health Organization (WHO) limit for hair of 2.0 ppm and ranged from 1.8 to 14.2 ppm, with 98% of a broader sample of 152 individuals exceeding the WHO limit. Hair Hg levels showed significant associations with cognitive performance, but the degree varied in magnitude according to the type of task. Hg levels were negatively associated with executive functioning performance (SOPT errors), while Hg levels and years of education predicted visuospatial performance (Corsi Block accuracy). Education was the only predictor of Word Span accuracy. The results show that Hg exposure is negatively associated with working memory performance when there is an increased reliance on executive functioning. Based on our findings and the review of the experimental research, we suggest that the SOPT and the Corsi Block have the potential to be alternatives to general intelligence tests when studying remote groups with extensive cultural differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alycia K. Silman
- Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | | | | | - Leahanne Giffin
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | | | - Katherine Myers
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Carlos Culquichicón
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru
| | - Stephanie Montero
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru
| | - Andres G. Lescano
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru
| | - Claudia M. Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado 17001, Peru
| | - Luis E. Fernandez
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado 17001, Peru
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Carnegie Amazon Mercury Project, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Miles R. Silman
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Michael J. Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
| | - John W. Sanders
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
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Bartel-Steinbach M, Lermen D, Gwinner F, Schäfer M, Göen T, Conrad A, Weber T, von Briesen H, Kolossa-Gehring M. Long-term monitoring of mercury in young German adults: Time trend analyses from the German Environmental Specimen Bank, 1995-2018. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112592. [PMID: 34973943 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As highlighted in the Minamata Convention, Mercury (Hg) in its various forms poses a substantial risk to human health and the environment. The health relevance of Hg is also recognized by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), which classifies Hg as a priority substance, since considerable knowledge and data gaps on Hg exposure levels and their changes over time still exist in Europe. The German Environmental Specimen Bank (German ESB) provides valuable policy relevant data and long-term trends of substance exposure on a national level for international comparison and evaluation. In this study we analysed data of the German ESB on Hg exposure of young adults aged 20 to 29 including data on urinary Hg levels from 1995 to 2018 and whole blood Hg levels from 2001 to 2010. Results show a clear decrease in both, about 86% in urine total daily Hg excretion from 1995 (0.76 μg/L) to 2018 (0.11 μg/L) (n = 10,069) and about 57% in blood concentrations of Hg from 2001 (1.76 μg/L) to 2010 (0.77 μg/L) (n = 4085). Over the investigated timeframe only a few values exceeded the toxicologically derived health based guidance value HBM I for blood and urine, with these exceedances decreasing over time in line with the general trend. The factors mostly influencing Hg excretion identified in this study are dental amalgam as well as fish and seafood consumption. Besides other factors (e.g. age and sex), also airborne Hg exposure appears to be a low but evident influencing factor in Germany. Although a considerable decrease in internal Hg exposure is recognized in the last decades, the current low-level exposure may cause adverse health effects especially to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children. To further elucidate and evaluate current exposure sources and to reduce human exposure to Hg, continuous environmental and human biomonitoring is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominik Lermen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Frederik Gwinner
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Moritz Schäfer
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Göen
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Weber
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Berlin, Germany
| | - Hagen von Briesen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Sulzbach, Germany
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9
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Jin D, Li L, Dong W, Zhu X, Xia X, Wang R, Ye J, Li R, Liu Z, Xu X, Gao L, Liu Y, Wang H. Research on Transfer Rate of Heavy Metals and Harmful Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine Extraction and Refining Processes and Product Health Risk Assessment. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:1956-1964. [PMID: 34275097 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ramulus Mori alkaloids, also known as SangZhi alkaloids (SZ-A), is a natural medicine used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China. SZ-A is extracted from Morus alba L., which grows in the natural environment and may be contaminated by heavy metals and harmful elements. These contaminants can enter SZ-A products during the extraction of M. alba, thereby posing a threat to patient health. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate scientific and reasonable limits to ensure patient safety. For this purpose, in this study, we used the extraction process of SZ-A as the object of investigation and determined the content of five harmful elements: Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Cu in the herb raw material, SZ-A product, and its intermediates obtained in different extraction steps. Next, the transfer rate of harmful elements in the extraction process was used as an indicator to evaluate the ability of different operations to remove harmful elements. Subsequently, the health risks of heavy metals and harmful elements in SZ-A were assessed. Our results demonstrated that M. alba has little risk of contamination by Hg. The cation and anion resin refining processes are the best effective method to remove Cd, Pb, and Cu from the products. However, As is not easily eliminated during the water extraction. There is as much as 87% of As transferred from the herb raw material to the water-extracted intermediate, while Cd, Pb, and Cu are rarely transferred (6% to 17%) under the same conditions. Overall, the results indicate that the regulatory standard limits for Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Cu contained in natural medicine Ramulus Mori alkaloids are set to 1, 5, 2, 0.2, and 20 μg/g, respectively, which is the most scientific and it can guarantee the safety of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujia Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wujun Dong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration, No. 128 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100022, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhu
- Beijing Wehand-Bio Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 30 Tianfu Street, Beijing, 102600, China
- Guangxi Wehand-Bio Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 16 Jincheng Street, Yizhou, 546300, Guangxi, China
| | - Xuejun Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Renyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jun Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Ran Li
- Beijing Wehand-Bio Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 30 Tianfu Street, Beijing, 102600, China
- Guangxi Wehand-Bio Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 16 Jincheng Street, Yizhou, 546300, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Wehand-Bio Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 30 Tianfu Street, Beijing, 102600, China
| | - Xueqing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Lili Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yuling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hongliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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10
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Chumchal MM, Beaubien GB, Drenner RW, Hannappel MP, Mills MA, Olson CI, Otter RR, Todd AC, Walters DM. Use of Riparian Spiders as Sentinels of Persistent and Bioavailable Chemical Contaminants in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:499-514. [PMID: 35113469 PMCID: PMC9703374 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems around the world are contaminated with a wide range of anthropogenic chemicals, including metals and organic pollutants, that originate from point and nonpoint sources. Many of these chemical contaminants have complex environmental cycles, are persistent and bioavailable, can be incorporated into aquatic food webs, and pose a threat to the health of wildlife and humans. Identifying appropriate sentinels that reflect bioavailability is critical to assessing and managing aquatic ecosystems impacted by contaminants. The objective of the present study is to review research on riparian spiders as sentinels of persistent and bioavailable chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Our review of the literature on riparian spiders as sentinels suggests that significant progress has been made during the last two decades of research. We identified 55 published studies conducted around the world in which riparian spiders (primarily of the families Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Lycosidae, and Pisauridae) were used as sentinels of chemical contamination of lotic, lentic, and estuarine systems. For several contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Hg, and Se, it is now clear that riparian spiders are appropriate sentinels. However, many contaminants and factors that could impact chemical concentrations in riparian spiders have not been well characterized. Further study of riparian spiders and their potential role as sentinels is critical because it would allow for development of national-scale programs that utilize riparian spiders as sentinels to monitor chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. A riparian spider sentinel program in the United States would be complementary to existing national sentinel programs, including those for fish and immature dragonflies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:499-514. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gale B. Beaubien
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ray W. Drenner
- Biology Department, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | | | - Marc A. Mills
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Connor I. Olson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Ryan R. Otter
- Department of Biology, Molecular Bioscience, Data Science Institute, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
| | - Andrew C. Todd
- Biology Department, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - David M. Walters
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri
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11
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Ekblad C, Eulaers I, Schulz R, Stjernberg T, Søndergaard J, Zubrod J, Laaksonen T. Spatial and dietary sources of elevated mercury exposure in white-tailed eagle nestlings in an Arctic freshwater environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:117952. [PMID: 34425374 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced mercury (Hg) contamination is of global concern and its effects on wildlife remain of high concern, especially in environmental hotspots such as inland aquatic ecosystems. Mercury biomagnifies through the food web resulting in high exposure in apex predators, such as the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), making them excellent sentinel species for environmental Hg contamination. An expanding population of white-tailed eagles is inhabiting a sparsely populated inland area in Lapland, northern Finland, mainly around two large reservoirs flooded 50 years ago. As previous preliminary work revealed elevated Hg levels in this population, we measured Hg exposure along with dietary proxies (δ13C and δ15N) in body feathers collected from white-tailed eagle nestlings in this area between 2007 and 2018. Mercury concentrations were investigated in relation to territory characteristics, proximity to the reservoirs and dietary ecology as potential driving factors of Hg contamination. Mercury concentrations in the nestlings (4.97-31.02 μg g-1 dw) were elevated, compared to earlier reported values in nestlings from the Finnish Baltic coast, and exceeded normal background levels (≤5.00 μg g-1) while remaining below the tentative threshold of elevated risk for Hg exposure mediated health effect (>40.00 μg g-1). The main drivers of Hg contamination were trophic position (proxied by δ15N), the dietary proportion of the predatory fish pike (Esox lucius), and the vicinity to the Porttipahta reservoir. We also identified a potential evolutionary trap, as increased intake of the preferred prey, pike, increases exposure. All in all, we present results for poorly understood freshwater lake environments and show that more efforts should be dedicated to further unravel potentially complex pathways of Hg exposure to wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ekblad
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ralf Schulz
- IES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, DE-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Torsten Stjernberg
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, PO Box 17, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jochen Zubrod
- IES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, DE-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
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12
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Hannappel MP, Chumchal MM, Drenner RW, Kennedy JH, Barst BD, Castellini JM, Nolan AR, Willoughby FM, Trauffler LP. Effect of Body Size on Methylmercury Concentrations in Shoreline Spiders: Implications for Their Use as Sentinels. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:1149-1154. [PMID: 33315274 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Shoreline spiders have been proposed as sentinels to monitor aquatic contaminants including methylmercury (MeHg). The present study examined the effect of spider body size on MeHg concentrations in shoreline spiders. We collected 6 taxa of spiders belonging to 4 families (orb-weavers [Araneidae], long-jawed orb weavers [Tetragnathidae: Tetragnatha sp.], jumping spiders [Salticidae], and wolf spiders [Lycosidae: Pardosa sp., Rabidosa sp., and Schizocosa sp.]) from the shorelines of 14 human-made ponds at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands in north Texas (USA). As a proxy for body size, we measured leg length (tibia + patella) of each spider. Spider taxa differed by 3-fold in mean MeHg concentration, and MeHg concentrations in 4 of 6 spider taxa increased significantly with leg length. The present study is the first to demonstrate that shoreline spider MeHg concentrations increase as a function of spider body size. Because spider size may account for some within-taxa variation in MeHg concentrations, future studies that utilize spiders as sentinels of aquatic contamination by MeHg or other biomagnifying contaminants should take spider size into account. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1149-1154. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew M Chumchal
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Ray W Drenner
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - James H Kennedy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin D Barst
- Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - J Margaret Castellini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Audrey R Nolan
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | | | - Lexton P Trauffler
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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13
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Richter W, Skinner LC. Mercury in the fish of New York's Great Lakes: A quarter century of near stability. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1721-1738. [PMID: 31784923 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02130-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We collected 849 fish of 16 species from New York portions of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the intervening Niagara River and its tributary Cayuga Creek, and analyzed fillets from individual fish for total mercury. Concentrations ranged from 0.029 to 1.090 ppm wet weight, with 92% below the EPA tissue residue criterion of 0.3 ppm, and thus not posing an undue risk from human consumption. We compared these 2010-2017 results to historical data spanning 40 years to assess temporal changes. The temporal pattern was generally consistent among water bodies and species: Mercury concentrations differed little between the most recent collections and fish taken from 1999-2008 and 1988-1996, while concentrations in all three of these periods were generally lower than in 1970. Smallmouth Bass from Lake Ontario were an exception with a continued decline, likely due to diet change following the introduction of exotic prey. Overall, though, fish tissue mercury concentrations from these large water bodies, which integrate regional influences, appear to have changed little in the last quarter century. We also report a consistent spatial pattern for multiple species having lower mercury concentrations in Lake Erie than in Lake Ontario over the period of record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Richter
- Division of Fish and Wildlife, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, USA.
- Department of Biology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, USA.
| | - Lawrence C Skinner
- Division of Fish and Wildlife, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, USA
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14
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Riva-Murray K, Richter W, Roxanna Razavi N, Burns DA, Cleckner LB, Burton M, George SD, Freehafer D. Mercury in fish from streams and rivers in New York State: Spatial patterns, temporal changes, and environmental drivers. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1686-1708. [PMID: 32440861 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02225-0] [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] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) concentrations in freshwater fish across the state of New York frequently exceed guidelines considered harmful to humans and wildlife, but statewide distribution and temporal changes are not well known for the state's streams and rivers. We analyzed existing data to describe recent spatial patterns, identify key environmental drivers, and assess temporal changes. Size classes within sportfishes and prey fishes formed 'functional taxa' (FT), and standardized scores were generated from 2007-2016 data for 218 sites. Muscle Hg in ≥1 sportfish FT exceeded human-health guidelines of 50 ng/g (sensitive populations) and 300 ng/g (general population, GP) at 93 and 56% of sites, respectively, but exceeded 1000 ng/g (a state threshold) at only 10% of sites. Whole-body Hg in ≥1 prey fish FT exceeded wildlife thresholds of 40 ng/g and 100 ng/g at 91 and 51% of sites, respectively. Environmental drivers of recent spatial patterns include extent of forest cover and storage, the latter an indicator of wetlands. Standardized Hg scores increased with increasing atmospheric Hg deposition and storage across rural 'upland' regions of New York. However, scores were not related to atmospheric deposition in more-developed 'lowland' regions due to the limited methylation potential of urban landscapes. Comparisons of 2010-2015 sportfish Hg concentrations with those of 1998 and 2000-2005 showed inconsistent temporal changes both among and within eight sites examined. Some recent stream and river fish Hg spatial patterns differed from those of lake-based studies, highlighting the importance of New York's flowing waters to future Hg monitoring and risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Riva-Murray
- U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
| | - Wayne Richter
- Division of Fish and Wildlife, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY, 12233, USA
- Department of Biology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, USA
| | - N Roxanna Razavi
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Douglas A Burns
- U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Lisa B Cleckner
- Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
| | - Mark Burton
- Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Scott D George
- U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Douglas Freehafer
- U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
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15
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Wang C, Jin H, Zhong C, Wang J, Sun M, Xie M. Estimating the contribution of atmosphere on heavy metals accumulation in the aboveground wheat tissues induced by anthropogenic forcing. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 189:109955. [PMID: 32736148 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109955] [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: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The influence of atmosphere pollution on human health is receiving more and more concerns as strengthened anthropogenic activity had brought excessive pollutant into the atmosphere. To date, the quantitative estimation about the contribution of atmosphere on the accumulation of heavy metal in the edible cereal parts induced by anthropogenic forcing is scarce. Taking the Yangtze River Delta area, China as an example, this study estimates quantitatively the influence of atmosphere on the concentration of heavy metal in the aboveground wheat tissues induced by anthropogenic industrial activity at the regional scale. The results show that the aboveground wheat tissues in the southern Yangtze River Delta area accumulated much more heavy metals than that in the northern area, although there is no significant difference in the geological and climate conditions, soil types, agricultural manages, wheat cultivar and soil heavy metals concentrations (even heavy metals concentrations in wheat root) between the southern area and northern area. The mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in wheat grain in southern area have exceeded the thresholds of contamination levels. The present study suggests that the influence of atmosphere on the accumulation of Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr in the aboveground wheat tissues is greatly significant when high amounts of pollutant are measured in the atmosphere. Based on translocation coefficient of the element, it is estimated that atmospheric pollution induced by anthropogenic forcing might lead to the concentration of heavy metals in wheat straw and grain increase by approximately 100% and 354% (Hg), 64% and 293% (Pb), 122% and 160% (Cr), 50% and 38% (Cd) and 14% and 41% (Cu), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China.
| | - Hao Jin
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Cong Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, 20015-1305, USA
| | - Mingyang Sun
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Mingjie Xie
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
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16
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Gerson JR, Walters DM, Eagles-Smith CA, Bernhardt ES, Brandt JE. Do Two Wrongs Make a Right? Persistent Uncertainties Regarding Environmental Selenium-Mercury Interactions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:9228-9234. [PMID: 32633495 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive environmental pollutant and contaminant of concern for both people and wildlife that has been a focus of environmental remediation efforts for decades. A growing body of literature has motivated calls for revising Hg consumption advisories to co-consider selenium (Se) levels in seafood and implies that remediating aquatic ecosystems with ecosystem-scale Se additions could be a robust solution to Hg contamination. Provided that elevated Se concentrations are also known toxicological threats to aquatic animals, we performed a literature search to evaluate the strength of evidence supporting three assertions underpinning the ameliorating benefits of Se: (1) dietary Se reduces MeHg toxicity in consumers; (2) environmental Se reduces Hg bioaccumulation and biomagnification in aquatic food webs; and (3) Se inhibits Hg bioavailability to, and/or methylmercury production by, microbial communities. Limited or ambiguous support for each criterion indicates that many scientific uncertainties and gaps remain regarding Se mediation of Hg behavior and toxicity in abiotic and biotic compartments. Significantly more information is needed to provide a strong scientific basis for modifying current fish consumption advisories on the basis of Se:Hg ratios or for applying Se amendments to remediate Hg-contaminated ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R Gerson
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - David M Walters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri 65201, United States
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97330, United States
| | - Emily S Bernhardt
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Jessica E Brandt
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment & Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
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17
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Gonzalez DJX, Arain A, Fernandez LE. Mercury exposure, risk factors, and perceptions among women of childbearing age in an artisanal gold mining region of the Peruvian Amazon. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 179:108786. [PMID: 31605870 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies from the Madre de Dios region of Peru report elevated mercury exposure among the general population. Our objective was to assess mercury exposure, risk factors, risk perceptions, and knowledge among women of childbearing age, a population of concern due to risks to infant and fetal health. We collected hair samples and administered a survey among 200 women aged 18-49 years residing in Madre de Dios. Hair total mercury (THg) concentrations were analyzed in accordance with EPA Method 7473. Associations between exposures and potential risk factors were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Geometric mean hair THg concentration (±standard deviation) for all participants was 1.62 ± 2.54 μg/g (range: 0.01-30.12 μg/g), and 67 participants (33.5%) had concentrations above the 2.2 μg/g reference dose established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Higher exposure was significantly associated with higher fish consumption (p = 0.03) and less mercury knowledge (p < 0.0001), but not with age or educational attainment. Most participants (86.2%) expressed concern about mercury contamination, but few (26.2%) had knowledge of the health risks associated with exposure. Many residents consumed fish species previously found to have low mercury concentrations, but more than 25% of participants reported consuming fish species with high mercury concentrations. We did not observe cross-sectional differences in fish intake among women who were pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J X Gonzalez
- Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Suite 226, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Jr. Cajamarca Cdra. 1 s/n, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru.
| | - Aubrey Arain
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, 433 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Jr. Cajamarca Cdra. 1 s/n, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru; Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA; Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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18
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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: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [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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19
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Ortega-Rodriguez CL, Chumchal MM, Drenner RW, Kennedy JH, Nowlin WH, Barst BD, Polk DK, Hall MN, Williams EB, Lauck KC, Santa-Rios A, Basu N. Relationship Between Methylmercury Contamination and Proportion of Aquatic and Terrestrial Prey in Diets of Shoreline Spiders. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:2503-2508. [PMID: 31441959 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial organisms such as shoreline spiders that consume prey from aquatic food webs can be contaminated with methylmercury (MeHg). However, no studies have examined the relationship between MeHg contamination of shoreline spider taxa and the proportion of aquatic and terrestrial prey in their diets. The present study had 2 objectives: 1) determine concentrations of MeHg in 7 taxa of shoreline spiders, and 2) assess the relationship between concentrations of MeHg in spiders and the proportion of aquatic and terrestrial prey in spider diets. We collected shoreline spiders, emergent aquatic insects, and terrestrial insects from in and around 10 experimental ponds. Methylmercury concentrations were greatest in spiders, intermediate in aquatic insects, and lowest in terrestrial insects. The elevated MeHg concentrations in spiders indicate that they were feeding, at least in part, on emergent aquatic insects. However, variability in MeHg concentration observed among spider taxa suggested that the proportion of aquatic and terrestrial prey in spider diets likely varied among taxa. We estimated the proportion of aquatic and terrestrial prey in the diet of each spider taxon from the nitrogen (δ15 N) and carbon (δ13 C) isotope values of spiders and their potential aquatic and terrestrial prey items. The median proportion of aquatic prey in spider diets varied by almost 2-fold, and MeHg concentrations in shoreline spiders were strongly correlated with the proportion of aquatic prey in their diet. In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that the degree of connectivity to aquatic food webs determines MeHg contamination of shoreline spiders. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2503-2508. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew M Chumchal
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Ray W Drenner
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - James H Kennedy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
| | - Weston H Nowlin
- Aquatic Station, Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin D Barst
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - D Kirkland Polk
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - MacGregor N Hall
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Edward B Williams
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Kyle C Lauck
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea Santa-Rios
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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20
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Bjørklund G, Chirumbolo S, Dadar M, Pivina L, Lindh U, Butnariu M, Aaseth J. Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2019; 125:317-327. [PMID: 31136080 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), a highly toxic environmental pollutant, shows harmfulness which still represents a big concern for human health, including hazards to fertility and pregnancy outcome. Research has shown that Hg could induce impairments in the reproductive function, cellular deformation of the Leydig cells and the seminiferous tubules, and testicular degeneration as well as abnormal menstrual cycles. Some studies investigated spontaneous abortion and complicated fertility outcome due to occupational Hg exposure. Moreover, there is a relation between inhaled Hg vapour and reproductive outcome. This MiniReview evaluates the hypothesis that exposure to Hg may increase the risk of reduced fertility, spontaneous abortion and congenital deficits or abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Lyudmila Pivina
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan.,CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Ulf Lindh
- Biology Education Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Monica Butnariu
- Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.,CONEM Romania Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences Group, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway.,Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
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21
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Zuo TT, Li YL, He HZ, Jin HY, Zhang L, Sun L, Gao F, Wang Q, Shen YJ, Ma SC, He LC. Refined assessment of heavy metal-associated health risk due to the consumption of traditional animal medicines in humans. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:171. [PMID: 30783770 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7270-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the extent of heavy metal accumulation in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In this study, the levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in traditional animal medicines were monitored using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Additionally, for the first time, a heavy metal risk assessment strategy was used to evaluate the potential risks of traditional animal medicines by calculating estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and cancer risk (CR). To obtain a refined risk assessment, the frequency of exposure to traditional animal medicines was determined from questionnaire data, and the safe factor for TCM was applied. Based on the standard levels for leech, it was found that earthworm, hive, scorpion, and leech accumulated high levels of heavy metals. The combined THQ (cTHQ) values indicated that ingestion of most traditional animal medicines would not pose a risk to the health of either male or female human beings. However, it was indicated that attention should be paid to the potential risk associated with cicada slough, earthworm, scorpion, turtle shells, and hive. Among heavy metals, As and Hg contributed to a major extent to the risk to human health. The CR assessment for Pb and As indicated that, with the exception of earthworm, the cancer risk was less than the acceptable lifetime risk for both males and females. Owing to the higher body weight, both THQ and CR were generally lower for males than for females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Tian Zuo
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning Xi Road, Xi'an, 710049, Shanxi, China
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yao-Lei Li
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Huai-Zhen He
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning Xi Road, Xi'an, 710049, Shanxi, China
| | - Hong-Yu Jin
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Sun
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Fei Gao
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Qi Wang
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yuan-Jun Shen
- College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Shuang-Cheng Ma
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Lang-Chong He
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning Xi Road, Xi'an, 710049, Shanxi, China.
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22
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Chen CY, Driscoll CT, Eagles-Smith CA, Eckley CS, Gay DA, Hsu-Kim H, Keane SE, Kirk JL, Mason RP, Obrist D, Selin H, Selin NE, Thompson MR. A Critical Time for Mercury Science to Inform Global Policy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:9556-9561. [PMID: 30067020 PMCID: PMC6200401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a global pollutant released into the biosphere by varied human activities including coal combustion, mining, artisanal gold mining, cement production, and chemical production. Once released to air, land and water, the addition of carbon atoms to mercury by bacteria results in the production of methylmercury, the toxic form that bioaccumulates in aquatic and terrestrial food chains resulting in elevated exposure to humans and wildlife. Global recognition of the mercury contamination problem has resulted in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which came into force in 2017. The treaty aims to protect human health and the environment from human-generated releases of mercury curtailing its movement and transformations in the biosphere. Coincident with the treaty's coming into force, the 13th International Conference of Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP-13) was held in Providence, Rhode Island USA. At ICMGP-13, cutting edge research was summarized and presented to address questions relating to global and regional sources and cycling of mercury, how that mercury is methylated, the effects of mercury exposure on humans and wildlife, and the science needed for successful implementation of the Minamata Convention. Human activities have the potential to enhance mercury methylation by remobilizing previously released mercury, and increasing methylation efficiency. This synthesis concluded that many of the most important factors influencing the fate and effects of mercury and its more toxic form, methylmercury, stem from environmental changes that are much broader in scope than mercury releases alone. Alterations of mercury cycling, methylmercury bioavailability and trophic transfer due to climate and land use changes remain critical uncertainties in effective implementation of the Minamata Convention. In the face of these uncertainties, important policy and management actions are needed over the short-term to support the control of mercury releases to land, water and air. These include adequate monitoring and communication on risk from exposure to various forms of inorganic mercury as well as methylmercury from fish and rice consumption. Successful management of global and local mercury pollution will require integration of mercury research and policy in a changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Y Chen
- Dartmouth College , Department of Biological Sciences , Hanover , New Hampshire 03755 United States
| | - Charles T Driscoll
- Syracuse University , Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Syracuse , New York 13244 United States
| | | | - Chris S Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Region-10 , Seattle , Washington 98101 United States
| | - David A Gay
- University of Wisconsin , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 United States
| | - Heileen Hsu-Kim
- Duke University , Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering , Durham , North Carolina 27708 United States
| | - Susan E Keane
- Natural Resources Defense Council , Washington , D.C. 20005 United States
| | - Jane L Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change, Canada , Burlington , ON L7P2X3 Canada
| | - Robert P Mason
- University of Connecticut , Department of Marine Sciences , Groton , Connecticut 06340 United States
| | - Daniel Obrist
- University of Massachusetts, Lowell , Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences , Lowell , Massachusetts 01854 United States
| | - Henrik Selin
- Boston University , Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 United States
| | - Noelle E Selin
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society , Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences , Boston , Massachusetts 02139 United States
| | - Marcella R Thompson
- University of Rhode Island , College of Nursing , Providence , Rhode Island 02903 United States
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23
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Dietz R, Mosbech A, Flora J, Eulaers I. Interactions of climate, socio-economics, and global mercury pollution in the North Water. AMBIO 2018. [PMID: 29516443 PMCID: PMC5963567 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1033-z] [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] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the remoteness of the North Water, Northwest Greenland, the local Inughuit population is affected by global anthropogenic pollution and climate change. Using a cross-disciplinary approach combining Mercury (Hg) analysis, catch information, and historical and anthropological perspectives, this article elucidates how the traditional diet is compromised by Hg pollution originating from lower latitudes. In a new approach we here show how the Inughuits in Avanersuaq are subject to high Hg exposure from the hunted traditional food, consisting of mainly marine seabirds and mammals. Violation of the provisional tolerably yearly intake of Hg, on average by a factor of 11 (range 7-15) over the last 20 years as well as the provisional tolerably monthly intake by a factor of 6 (range 2-16), raises health concerns. The surplus of Selenium (Se) in wildlife tissues including narwhals showed Se:Hg molar ratios of 1.5, 2.3, and 16.7 in muscle, liver, and mattak, respectively, likely to provide some protection against the high Hg exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Dietz
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anders Mosbech
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Janne Flora
- Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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