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Liu X, Wang Z, Wang C, Wang B, Cao H, Shan J, Zhang X. Mercury distribution, exposure and risk in Poyang Lake and vicinity, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123409. [PMID: 38244906 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), especially methylmercury (MeHg), which is highly neurotoxic, is a global pollutant that can affect human health because of its accumulation in aquatic products. Poyang Lake, an inland lake in China, has been significantly affected by human activity, yet there is limited understanding of local mercury contamination and potential exposure pathways to humans. In this study, we explored the risks of mercury exposure by sampling sediments, plants, and aquatic organisms in the lake and surrounding areas and analyzing total Hg (THg) and MeHg levels. Sediment sampling was conducted at the main lake, rivers, rice paddies, and fishponds. Two dominant species of plants and 15 species of aquatic organisms were sampled and analyzed. We assessed the characteristics of mercury in sediments using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), mercury exposure using the biomagnification factor (BMF) and biota sediment accumulation factor (BSAF), and risks using thresholds for adverse effects. The highest THg concentrations (137.04 ± 44.3 ng g-1 dw) were detected in the main lake sediments, whereas the highest MeHg concentrations (0.47 ± 0.6 ng g-1 dw) were detected in fishpond sediments. Mercury accumulation in the main lake sediments could be assessed as contaminated (Igeo > 0: 81.6%). Yellow catfish had the highest mercury concentration (THg 770.69 ± 199.7 ng g-1 dw; MeHg 741.93 ± 168.8 ng g-1 dw). Piscivores were adversely affected by carnivorous fish (50.8%), but all fish concentrations did not exceed the food safety standards recommend by China and the WHO. The mercury exposure results revealed significant Hg biomagnification and enrichment (BMF >1: 94.55%; BSAFmax = 1218). Long-term monitoring of aquatic organisms is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Chunjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Huabin Cao
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Jihong Shan
- Wildlife and Plant Protection Center, Jiangxi Provincial Department of Forestry, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Janiga M, Janiga M, Pitoňáková T. Differential accumulation of metals in the lacustrine and fluvial Alpine bullheads (Cottus poecilopus) and recovery of fish from metal contamination after a flash flood. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:17387-17400. [PMID: 38340297 PMCID: PMC10894169 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32288-z] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The spatiotemporal distribution and transport of mercury, zinc, molybdenum, rubidium, and strontium from alpine terrestrial ecosystems to alpine lake and mountain stream populations of Cottus poecilopus were investigated. Metals were measured for 66 wild fish collected from different lakes and Javorinka stream across. Mercury was measured in the pectoral fins, other elements in the skull. Bullheads contained more metals in the alpine lakes than in the mountain stream. In particular, mercury and zinc concentrations in lake bullheads were 6 and 2.5 times higher, respectively, than those of stream-dwelling fish. New data were generated on metal bioaccumulation in fish of understudied West Carpathian alpine lake environments. In July 2018, a major flood occurred in the area of the Javorinka. Already then, the mercury content in bullheads increased significantly. Bioaccumulation of mercury in fish occurred very quickly after the flood and was also significant in the following 2019. Then, the concentrations of mercury quickly decreased up to 70% in 2021-2022. Average concentrations of molybdenum and rubidium in bullheads in the stream rapidly declined in the year following the flood disturbance, but within less than 2 years, the metal levels stabilized at about the same level as in 2017 prior the flood. Strontium concentrations in fish dropped rapidly immediately after the flood, increased in the following years, and dropped again after 4 years, suggesting that many more factors are influencing strontium bioaccumulation in fish that are comparable in magnitude to the flood. The most serious warning seems to be the absence of biogenic zinc. The average concentration in the Alpine bullheads population in the stream has declined by 70% in less than 5 years and is steadily declining. An important result of this study is the demonstration that disturbance by a single factor (heavy rainfall and flooding) has a clear and timely effect on average metal concentrations in the fish population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marián Janiga
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Žilina, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia
| | - Martin Janiga
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Žilina, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia
- Faculty of Humanities and Natural Scienes, University of Presov, Presov, Slovakia
| | - Tatiana Pitoňáková
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Žilina, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia.
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Magnuson JT, Sandheinrich MB. Relation among Mercury, Selenium, and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Northern Pike ( Esox lucius). TOXICS 2023; 11:244. [PMID: 36977009 PMCID: PMC10057176 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic environmental contaminant associated with oxidative stress in freshwater fish. A known antagonist to Hg, selenium (Se), may reduce the toxic effects of Hg. In this study, the relation among Se, methylmercury (MeHg), inorganic mercury (IHg), total mercury (THg), and the expression of biomarkers of oxidative stress and metal regulation in livers of northern pike were examined. Livers from northern pike were collected from 12 lakes in Isle Royale National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Voyageurs National Park. The concentrations of MeHg, THg, and Se were measured in liver tissue, and the expression of superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat), glutathione s-transferase (gst), and metallothionein (mt) was assessed. There was a positive relationship between the concentrations of THg and Se, with a Hg:Se molar ratio less than one in all livers examined. There was no significant relation between sod, cat, gst, or mt expression and Hg:Se molar ratios. cat and sod expression were significantly related to increases in percent MeHg, relative to THg; however, gst and mt expression were not significantly altered. This suggests that incorporating biomarkers containing Se may be a better indicator than non-selenium-containing proteins of assessing the long-term effect of Hg and the interactions between Hg and Se in the livers of fish, such as northern pike, especially when molar concentrations of Se are greater than Hg.
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Imanse SM, Anchor CL, Anchor GC, Landolfi JA, Kinsel MJ, Levengood JM, Delaney MA, Terio KA. Pathologic impacts of contaminants in freshwater fish of Cook County IL. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 242:106043. [PMID: 34902739 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.106043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread environmental toxicants in urban environments with negative impacts to fish health. The present study evaluated the potential association between muscle tissue contaminant (total Hg and total PCB) concentrations and indicators of health in benthic and predatory fish collected from four Forest Preserves of Cook County lakes in the Chicago metropolitan area. Common carp (carp; Cyprinus carpio) and largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) were sampled three times a year (spring, summer, fall) during 2019 and 2020. Water quality analyses (temperature, color, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, pH, chloride, nitrate, phosphate, ammonium, and pH) were performed concurrently with fish collections. Tissue (skin-on fillet) contaminant concentrations were compared between lake types and fish species and assessed for any relationship with fish morphometric data and pathologic lesions. Main health indicator endpoints included muscle lipid content, parasite burden, and pathologic lesions. Mean total PCB concentrations were greater in carp (203.1 ± 152 µg/kg, wet weight), and mean Hg concentrations were greater in LMB (0.11 ± 0.1 mg/kg, wet weight). In most fish, concentrations of both toxicants surpassed the EPA's lowest threshold to restrict fish consumption for sensitive cohorts (0.029 mg/kg for Hg and 1.5 µg/kg for PCBs). In both species, Hg positively correlated with splenic pigmented macrophage aggregate area (P < 0.001). In carp, Hg also positively correlated with hepatocellular pigmentation (P < 0.01). Mercury correlated with standard length in both species (LMB: P < 0.001, carp: P = 0.95), but polychlorinated biphenyls only correlated with standard length in carp (P < 0.001). No association was found between intraspecific contaminant concentrations and parasite burden, year, or lake type, though differences were noted among individual lakes. The contaminant burden appeared well-tolerated with only mild Hg-associated and no appreciable PCB-associated lesions. However, possible effects on reproduction or behavior were not fully assessed, and future studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra M Imanse
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA.
| | - Chris L Anchor
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County, 536 North Harlem Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305, USA.
| | - Gretchen C Anchor
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA.
| | - Jennifer A Landolfi
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA
| | - Michael J Kinsel
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Levengood
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 6184, USA.
| | - Martha A Delaney
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA.
| | - Karen A Terio
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA.
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Hina N, Riaz R, Ali U, Rafique U, Malik RN. A Quantitative Assessment and Biomagnification of Mercury and Its Associated Health Risks from Fish Consumption in Freshwater Lakes of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:3510-3526. [PMID: 33409920 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02479-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Issues regarding biomagnification of mercury (Hg) due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity in freshwater lakes have gained much attention in the last two decades especially in remote regions of the world where anthropogenic inputs are considered as negligible. In this study, spatial distribution of total mercury (THg), interspecific accumulation patterns, trophic transfer, and associated health risks in fish of freshwater lakes (357-3107 masl) in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, were investigated. THg concentrations in the regions were 0.20 ± 0.08 μg g-1 in glacial, 0.54 ± 0.21 μg g-1 in rural, and 1.35 ± 0.46 μg g-1 in urban region. Omnivorous, herbivorous, and carnivorous fish showed THg concentrations of 0.94, 0.85, and 0.49 μg g-1. Regional, lake, trophic level, and specie-specific differences of THg accumulation were found significant in the study. Among growth parameters, length and age varied significantly among species, trophic levels, and lakes, whereas weight showed significant variation among lakes as well. Condition factor (K) showed significant differences within species, lakes, and trophic levels. Biomagnification was observed in all lakes with the trophic magnification slopes (TMS) ranging from 0.03 to 0.20 with an average of 0.094 ± 0.07. Isotopic values of nitrogen (δ15N) and condition factor were found to dominate THg accumulation trends; however, no significant health risks were found in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhat Hina
- Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Rahat Riaz
- Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan
| | - Usman Ali
- Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan
| | - Uzaira Rafique
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpidi, 46000, Pakistan
| | - Riffat Naseem Malik
- Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan
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Mai Y, Peng S, Li H, Gao Y, Lai Z. NOD-like receptor signaling pathway activation: A potential mechanism underlying negative effects of benzo(α)pyrene on zebrafish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 240:108935. [PMID: 33161151 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Benzo(α)pyrene (BaP) is one of typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic environments and has been shown to cause toxic effects to aquatic animals. Although the negative effects of BaP have been investigated, the potential toxic mechanisms remain uncharacterized. To explore the potential mechanisms mediating the toxic effects of BaP, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to BaP for 15 days and the toxic effects of BaP in zebrafish liver were investigated using physiological and transcriptomic analyses. After 15-day BaP exposure, zebrafish liver exhibited abnormalities including increased cytoplasmic vacuolation, inflammatory cell infiltration, swelled nuclei and irregular pigmentation. BaP exposure also induced oxidative stress to the liver of zebrafish. Transcriptomic profiles revealed 5129 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 15-days of BaP exposure, and the vast majority of DEGs were up-regulated under BaP treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses suggest that genes related to immune response were significantly dysregulated. Furthermore, the nucleotide-binding, oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway was significantly enriched and most of the genes in this pathway exhibited enhanced expression after BaP exposure. These results partially explained the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of BaP on zebrafish liver. In conclusion, BaP has the potential to induce physiological responses in zebrafish liver through altering associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhan Mai
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China
| | - Songyao Peng
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China
| | - Zini Lai
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China; Fishery Ecological Environment Monitoring Center of Pearl River Basin, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510380, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Ye X, Rountos KJ, Lee CS, Fisher NS. Effects of methylmercury on the early life stages of an estuarine forage fish using two different dietary sources. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 164:105240. [PMID: 33418125 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105240] [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: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Marine fish accumulate methylmercury (MeHg) to elevated concentrations, often higher than in freshwater systems. As a neurotoxic compound, high MeHg tissue concentrations could affect fish behavior which in turn could affect their populations. We examined the sublethal effects of MeHg on larvae of the Sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), an estuarine fish, using artificial or natural diets with varying MeHg concentrations (0-4.8 ppm). Larvae were fed control and MeHg-contaminated diets at low or normal (10% of their body mass) daily food rations from 7 to 29 days when they reached juvenile stage. Growth, respiration, swimming activity and prey capture ability were assessed. Food ration affected Hg toxicity in our study. Natural diets containing 3.2 ppm MeHg had no impacts on growth and swimming in fish that were fed normal food rations but depressed growth and swimming at low food rations. MeHg toxicity did not differ between artificial and natural foods, however fish accumulated more MeHg from the former. Artificial food containing 4.8 ppm MeHg only affected prey capture after 21 days of exposure. Sheepshead minnows, a forage fish species occupying a low trophic level in coastal waters, can be MeHg tolerant, especially when food is abundant, and can serve as an enriched Hg source for higher trophic level predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiayan Ye
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
| | - Konstantine J Rountos
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; Department of Biology, St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | - Nicholas S Fisher
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
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Analytical methods for mercury speciation, detection, and measurement in water, oil, and gas. Trends Analyt Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.116016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Matsche MA, Blazer VS, Mazik PM. Comparisons of Stereological and Other Approaches for Quantifying Macrophage Aggregates in Piscine Spleens. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2019; 31:328-348. [PMID: 31634422 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Macrophage aggregates (MAs) are focal accumulations of pigmented macrophages in the spleen and other tissues of fish. A central role of MAs is the clearance and destruction of degenerating cells and recycling of some cellular components. Macrophage aggregates also respond to chemical contaminants and infectious agents and may play a role in the adaptive immune response. Tissue damage or physiological stress can result in increased MA accumulation. As a result, MAs may be sensitive biomarkers of environmental stress in fish. Abundance of MAs in tissues has been reported in a variety of ways-most commonly as density, mean size, and relative area-but the utility of these estimates has not been compared. In this study, four different types of splenic MA abundance estimates (abundance score, density, relative area, and total volume) were compared in two fish populations (Striped Bass Morone saxatilis and White Perch M. americana) with a wide range in ages. Stereological estimates of total volume indicated an increase in MA abundance with spleen volume, which generally corresponded to fish age, and with splenic infections (mycobacteria or trematode parasites). Abundance scores were generally limited in the ability to detect changes in MA abundance by these factors, whereas density estimates were greatly influenced by changes in spleen volume. In some instances, densities declined while the total volume of MAs and spleen volume increased. Experimentally induced acute stress resulted in a decrease in spleen volume and an increase in MA density, although the total volume of MAs remained unchanged. Relative area estimates accounted for the size and number of MAs but not for changes in organ volume. Total volume is an absolute measure of MA abundance irrespective of changes in organ volume or patterns of accumulation and may provide an improved means of quantifying MAs in the spleens of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Matsche
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, 904 South Morris Street, Oxford, Maryland, 21654, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia, 25430, USA
| | - Patricia M Mazik
- U.S. Geological Survey, West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University, 322 Percival Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, USA
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Mai Y, Peng S, Li H, Lai Z. Histological, biochemical and transcriptomic analyses reveal liver damage in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to phenanthrene. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 225:108582. [PMID: 31374294 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Phenanthrene (PHE) is a common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in aquatic environments, and this contaminant can cause adverse effects on teleostean performance. In this study, we exposed the model freshwater fish (zebrafish; Danio rerio) to 300 μg/L PHE for 15 days. Histological analysis demonstrated that liver morphology deteriorated in PHE-exposed zebrafish, and cellular damage in the liver increased. Biological analysis revealed that exposure to PHE elicited significant changes in glutathione S-transferases (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. 476 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in liver between control and PHE treated groups through the transcriptomic analysis. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis (GO) suggested that PHE exposure induced changes in the expression of genes associated with "lipid transporter activity", "catalytic activity", "metal ion binding", "lipid transport" and "transmembrane transport". Furthermore, the "vitamin digestion and absorption" and "fat digestion and absorption" pathways enriched in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis (KEGG). Additionally, five candidate biomarkers associated with the PHE response in zebrafish were identified. In conclusion, our results elucidate the physiological and molecular responses to PHE exposure in the liver of zebrafish, and provide a framework for further studies of the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhan Mai
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
| | - Songyao Peng
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
| | - Zini Lai
- Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China.
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11
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Graves SD, Liber K, Palace V, Hecker M, Doig LE, Janz DM. Effects of selenium on benthic macroinvertebrates and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) in a boreal lake ecosystem. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 182:109354. [PMID: 31272025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is a contaminant of concern in many aquatic ecosystems due to its narrow range between essentiality and toxicity in oviparous (yolk-bearing) vertebrates. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of Se, experimentally added to in situ limnocorrals as selenite, on invertebrate communities and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) at environmentally realistic Se concentrations. Nine limnocorrals were deployed in a mesotrophic lake at the International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario, Canada in May 2017. From June 1 to August 17, 2017, selenite was added to six enclosures to attain mean measured aqueous Se concentrations of 1.0 ± 0.10 or 8.9 ± 2.7 μg/L Se (in triplicate) and three limnocorrals were untreated controls (background mean aqueous Se = 0.12 ± 0.03 μg/L). Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected throughout and at the end of the exposure period using artificial substrates to determine density, dry biomass, diversity, and taxa richness at the family level. Reproductively mature female fathead minnows (added on d 33 of the study) were collected throughout and at the end of the exposure period. After 77 d, Chironomidae and Gammaridae densities and biomass were significantly lower in the 8.9 μg/L Se treatment relative to the 1.0 μg/L Se treatment and the control. Invertebrate diversity (measured as Shannon's and Simpson's indices) significantly declined in the 1.0 μg/L and 8.9 μg/L Se treatments relative to the control (0.12 μg/L Se group). Fulton's condition factor for fathead minnow was significantly less in the 8.9 μg/L treatment compared to 0.12 and 1.0 μg/L Se experimental groups. The results of this study indicated that exposure to relatively low aqueous selenite concentrations can negatively affect invertebrate density and biomass, as well as fish condition. More research is necessary to characterize the risk of selenite exposure to aquatic invertebrates under realistic field conditions, and future risk assessments may need to consider reduced food availability as a factor that may impair the health of higher trophic level organisms in areas with elevated selenite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D Graves
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Karsten Liber
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Vince Palace
- International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Lorne E Doig
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - David M Janz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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12
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Soulen BK, Adams DH, Roberts AP. Mercury accumulation, speciation, and temporal trends in Atlantic Stingrays (Hypanus sabinus). ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 28:251-260. [PMID: 30761428 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-018-02014-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) deposited into aquatic sediments can be converted into the more toxic methylmercury (MeHg) by microbial activity. Atlantic stingrays (Hypanus sabinus) are an estuarine and nearshore species found in coastal regions of the western North Atlantic, occurring in multiple habitat types, and feeding mainly on benthic invertebrates. Mercury dynamics and speciation in stingrays have not been well examined. This study quantified total Hg and Hg species (Hg (II) and MeHg) in Atlantic stingrays sampled from Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL) from 2012 to 2013. Tissues (muscle and liver) collected from 29 stingrays were lyophilized and homogenized before being analyzed using a direct mercury analyzer. Concentrations of total Hg in muscle were positively related to stingray disk width, but concentrations in liver were not. Mean (±SD) total Hg in muscle (0.56 ± 0.30 mg/kg dw) was significantly higher than mean total Hg in liver (0.23 ± 0.19 mg/kg dw). Within liver tissue, percent MeHg (of total Hg) ranged from 31 to 99%. The ratio between total Hg in liver and total Hg in muscle was <1 for nearly all individuals, suggesting a lack of active hepatic demethylation and sequestration mechanisms. Concentrations of Hg in IRL Atlantic stingrays fall below concentrations known to result in direct toxicity to fishes; however, effects thresholds are not well understood for elasmobranchs. Comparisons of Hg concentrations in IRL Atlantic stingrays sampled previously (37 individuals in 1994) indicate that total Hg concentrations in muscle of Atlantic stingrays have decreased over the past two decades, suggesting a reduction in the bioavailable Hg in the IRL ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianne K Soulen
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
| | - Douglas H Adams
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Indian River Field Lab, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
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13
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Sayed AEDH, Abd-Elkareem M, Abou Khalil NS. Immunotoxic effects of 4-nonylphenol on Clarias gariepinus: Cytopathological changes in hepatic melanomacrophages. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY 2019; 207:83-90. [PMID: 30537592 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) play a key role in the immune response in fish. They are considered sensitive bio-monitoring structures with roles in the assessment of toxicant impacts. The aim of this study was to examine the potential histopathological effect of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) on hepatic MMCs in Clarias gariepinus. To achieve this objective, adult male fish were divided randomly and equally into two groups: a control group and a group that was exposed to 4-NP (dissolved in water at a dose of 0.1 mg/L) for 21 days. The 4-NP-intoxicated hepatic MMCs contained numerous necrotic macrophages. Superoxide dismutase 2 was immuno-expressed in the hepatic MMCs in both groups, with no significant difference. Histomorphometric examination revealed that the sizes and numbers of MMCs were dramatically higher in the livers of 4-NP-exposed C. gariepinus than in control fish. Following 4-NP challenge, in the liver, the abundance of lipofuscin and haemosiderin pigments increased, and single-pigmented macrophages, aggregated groups of deformed red blood cells (RBCs) and macrophages were present near blood vessels and hepatic sinusoids. These results reveal that 4-NP exerts immunological effects on hepatic MMCs in C. gariepinus and support the utility of MMCs as a cytological biomarker for aquatic exposure to 4-NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa El-Din H Sayed
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut, Egypt.
| | - Mahmoud Abd-Elkareem
- Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Nasser S Abou Khalil
- Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Wang X, Wu F, Wang WX. In Vivo Mercury Demethylation in a Marine Fish (Acanthopagrus schlegeli). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:6441-6451. [PMID: 28514845 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) in fish has attracted public attention for decades, and methylmercury (MeHg) is the predominant form in fish. However, the in vivo MeHg demethylation and its influence on Hg level in fish have not been well-addressed. The present study investigated the in vivo demethylation process in a marine fish (black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegeli) under dietary MeHg exposure and depuration and quantified the biotransformation and interorgan transportation of MeHg by developing a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. After exposure, we observed a 2-fold increase of the whole-body inorganic Hg (IHg), indicating the existence of an in vivo demethylation process. The results strongly suggested that the intestine played a predominant role in MeHg demethylation with a significant rate (6.6 ± 1.7 day-1) during exposure, whereas the hepatic demethylation appeared to be an extremely slow (0.011 ± 0.001 day-1) process and could hardly affect the whole-fish Hg level. Moreover, demethylation in the intestine served as an important pathway for MeHg detoxification. Our study also pointed out that in vivo MeHg demethylation could influence Hg level and speciation in fish although food is the major pathway for Hg accumulation. Enhancing in vivo MeHg biotransformation (especially in the intestine) could be a potential key solution in minimizing Hg contamination in fish. The related factors involved in intestinal demethylation deserve more attention in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wang
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Marine Environmental Laboratory, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences , Beijing 100012, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Marine Environmental Laboratory, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen 518057, China
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15
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Graves SD, Kidd KA, Houlahan JE, Munkittrick KR. General and histological indicators of health in wild fishes from a biological mercury hotspot in northeastern North America. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:976-987. [PMID: 27595668 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Nova Scotia, Canada, is considered a biological mercury (Hg) hotspot because the tissues of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and common loons (Gavia immer) inhabiting the lakes frequently exceed so-called safe levels of Hg. In the present study, the relationships between Hg and overall health of males and females of 3 forage fish species (brown bullhead Ameirus nebulosus, banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus, and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas; n = 6-18/sex/lake) in 6 lakes at the park were assessed using condition factor, liversomatic index (LSI), and macrophage aggregates (MAs; indicators of tissue damage). Mean muscle total Hg (THg) concentrations of brown bullhead, banded killifish, and golden shiner across lakes were 0.32 μg/g, 0.27 μg/g, and 0.34 μg/g, respectively. Condition was negatively related to muscle THg in golden shiner and banded killifish, LSI was not related to THg in any species, and all species showed evidence of increasing MA prevalence (counts and area) with increasing THg concentrations. The MAs were most prevalent in spleen tissues of golden shiner, with mean percentage cover ranging from 0.36% to 5.59% across lakes. In addition, the area of MAs appeared to be better predicted by THg concentration than was the number of MAs in the same tissue. These findings suggest that Hg is affecting the health of wild fishes in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site and that other populations with similar or higher concentrations of this metal may also be at risk. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:976-987. © 2016 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen A Kidd
- University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Jeff E Houlahan
- University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Kelly R Munkittrick
- University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
- Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Graves SD, Kidd KA, Batchelar KL, Cowie AM, O'Driscoll NJ, Martyniuk CJ. Response of oxidative stress transcripts in the brain of wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens) exposed to an environmental gradient of methylmercury. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 192:50-58. [PMID: 27939725 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure and adverse health effects in fishes have been documented, but the molecular mechanisms involved in toxicity have not been fully characterized. The objectives of the current study were to (1) determine whether total Hg (THg) in the muscle was predictive of MeHg concentrations in the brain of wild female yellow perch (Perca flavescens) collected from four lakes in Kejimkujik National Park, a known biological mercury (Hg) hotspot in Nova Scotia, Canada and (2) to determine whether transcripts involved in the oxidative stress response were altered in abundance in fish collected across five lakes representing a MeHg gradient. In female yellow perch, MeHg in whole brain (0.38 to 2.00μg/g wet weight) was positively associated with THg in muscle (0.18 to 2.13μg/g wet weight) (R2=0.61, p<0.01), suggesting that muscle THg may be useful for predicting MeHg concentrations in the brain. Catalase (cat) mRNA levels were significantly lower in brains of perch collected from lakes with high Hg when compared to those individuals from lakes with relatively lower Hg (p=0.02). Other transcripts (cytochrome c oxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase, heat shock protein 70, protein disulfide isomerase, and superoxide dismutase) did not show differential expression in the brain over the gradient. These findings suggest that MeHg may be inversely associated with catalase mRNA abundance in the central nervous system of wild fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D Graves
- Department of Biology and Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada.
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology and Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada
| | - Katharina L Batchelar
- Department of Biology and Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada
| | - Andrew M Cowie
- Department of Biology and Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Department of Biology and Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada; Department of Physiological Sciences and Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, UF Genetics Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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17
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Sandheinrich MB, Drevnick PE. Relationship among mercury concentration, growth rate, and condition of northern pike: A tautology resolved? ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2016; 35:2910-2915. [PMID: 27283506 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury is a bioaccumulative contaminant that biomagnifies in aquatic food webs and adversely affects the health of freshwater fish. Previous studies have documented an inverse relationship between fish condition and concentration of mercury in fish. However, this relationship may be a result of slow-growing fish accumulating large amounts of methylmercury rather than the effects of methylmercury on fish condition and growth. An evaluation was conducted of the relationship among fish condition, growth, and mercury concentration in northern pike Esox lucius from 26 lakes in the western region of the Laurentian Great Lakes (USA-Canada). The relative weight (an index of fish condition) of northern pike was inversely related to mercury concentration in the axial muscle. The concentration of mercury in standard-size northern pike increased with fish age and suggested that fast-growing fish accumulated less mercury than slow-growing fish. However, there was no relationship between the mean relative weight of northern pike in each population and mean age or mercury concentration of standard-size northern pike. These results suggest that the relationship between mercury and fish condition is not because of the effects of mercury on rate of growth, but rather because slow-growing fish bioaccumulate greater concentrations of mercury than fast-growing fish of the same length. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2910-2915. © 2016 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B Sandheinrich
- Department of Biology and River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
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18
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Yadetie F, Bjørneklett S, Garberg HK, Oveland E, Berven F, Goksøyr A, Karlsen OA. Quantitative analyses of the hepatic proteome of methylmercury-exposed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) suggest oxidative stress-mediated effects on cellular energy metabolism. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:554. [PMID: 27496535 PMCID: PMC4974784 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2864-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylmecury (MeHg) is a widely distributed environmental pollutant with considerable risk to both human health and wildlife. To gain better insight into the underlying mechanisms of MeHg-mediated toxicity, we have used label-free quantitative mass spectrometry to analyze the liver proteome of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) exposed in vivo to MeHg (0, 0.5, 2 mg/kg body weight) for 2 weeks. RESULTS Out of a toltal of 1143 proteins quantified, 125 proteins were differentially regulated between MeHg-treated samples and controls. Using various bioinformatics tools, we performed gene ontology, pathway and network enrichment analysis, which indicated that proteins and pathways mainly related to energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, cytoskeleton remodeling, and protein synthesis were regulated in the hepatic proteome after MeHg exposure. Comparison with previous gene expression data strengthened these results, and further supported that MeHg predominantly affects many energy metabolism pathways, presumably through its strong induction of oxidative stress. Some enzymes known to have functionally important oxidation-sensitive cysteine residues in other animals are among the differentially regulated proteins, suggesting their modulations by MeHg-induced oxidative stress. Integrated analysis of the proteomics dataset combined with previous gene expression dataset showed a more pronounced effect of MeHg on amino acid, glucose and fatty acid metabolic pathways, and suggested possible interactions of the cellular energy metabolism and antioxidant defense pathways. CONCLUSIONS MeHg disrupts mainly redox homeostasis and energy generating metabolic pathways in cod liver. The energy pathways appear to be modulated through MeHg-induced oxidative stress, possibly mediated by oxidation sensitive enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fekadu Yadetie
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Silje Bjørneklett
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hilde Kristin Garberg
- Department of Biomedicine, Proteomics Unit (PROBE) at the University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eystein Oveland
- Department of Biomedicine, Proteomics Unit (PROBE) at the University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Frode Berven
- Department of Biomedicine, Proteomics Unit (PROBE) at the University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Odd André Karlsen
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway.
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19
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Barst BD, Rosabal M, Campbell PGC, Muir DGC, Wang X, Köck G, Drevnick PE. Subcellular distribution of trace elements and liver histology of landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) sampled along a mercury contamination gradient. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 212:574-583. [PMID: 26986088 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We sampled landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from four lakes (Small, 9-Mile, North, Amituk) in the Canadian High Arctic that span a gradient of mercury contamination. Metals (Hg, Se, Tl, and Fe) were measured in char tissues to determine their relationships with health indices (relative condition factor and hepatosomatic index), stable nitrogen isotope ratios, and liver histology. A subcellular partitioning procedure was employed to determine how metals were distributed between potentially sensitive and detoxified compartments of Arctic char livers from a low- and high-mercury lake (Small Lake and Amituk Lake, respectively). Differences in health indices and metal concentrations among char populations were likely related to differences in feeding ecology. Concentrations of Hg, Se, and Tl were highest in the livers of Amituk char, whereas concentrations of Fe were highest in Small and 9-Mile char. At the subcellular level we found that although Amituk char had higher concentrations of Tl in whole liver than Small Lake char, they maintained a greater proportion of this metal in detoxified fractions, suggesting an attempt at detoxification. Mercury was found mainly in potentially sensitive fractions of both Small and Amituk Lake char, indicating that Arctic char are not effectively detoxifying this metal. Histological changes in char livers, mainly in the form of melano-macrophage aggregates and hepatic fibrosis, could be linked to the concentrations and subcellular distributions of essential or non-essential metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Barst
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement (INRS-ETE), 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Maikel Rosabal
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement (INRS-ETE), 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Peter G C Campbell
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement (INRS-ETE), 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Derek G C Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Xioawa Wang
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Günter Köck
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Studies (ÖAW-IGF), 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Paul E Drevnick
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement (INRS-ETE), 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada; University of Michigan Biological Station and School of Natural Resources and Environment, 440 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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20
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Macirella R, Guardia A, Pellegrino D, Bernabò I, Tronci V, Ebbesson LOE, Sesti S, Tripepi S, Brunelli E. Effects of Two Sublethal Concentrations of Mercury Chloride on the Morphology and Metallothionein Activity in the Liver of Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:361. [PMID: 26978352 PMCID: PMC4813222 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17030361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a highly hazardous pollutant widely used in industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural fields. Mercury is found in the environment in several forms, elemental, inorganic (iHg) and organic, all of which are toxic. Considering that the liver is the organ primarily involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways, homeostasis and detoxification we investigated the morphological and ultrastructural effects in Danio rerio liver after 96 h exposure to two low HgCl2 concentrations (7.7 and 38.5 μg/L). We showed that a short-term exposure to very low concentrations of iHg severely affects liver morphology and ultrastructure. The main effects recorded in this work were: cytoplasm vacuolization, decrease in both lipid droplets and glycogen granules, increase in number of mitochondria, increase of rough endoplasmic reticulum and pyknotic nuclei. Pathological alterations observed were dose dependent. Trough immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and real-time PCR analysis, the induction of metallothionein (MT) under stressor conditions was also evaluated. Some of observed alterations could be considered as a general response of tissue to heavy metals, whereas others (such as increased number of mitochondria and increase of RER) may be considered as an adaptive response to mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Macirella
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
| | - Antonello Guardia
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
| | - Daniela Pellegrino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Bernabò
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
| | | | - Lars O E Ebbesson
- Uni Research Environment, Uni Research, Bergen 5006, Norway.
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen High Technology Center, Bergen 5020, Norway.
| | - Settimio Sesti
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
| | - Sandro Tripepi
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
| | - Elvira Brunelli
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy.
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21
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Barst BD, Bridges K, Korbas M, Roberts AP, Van Kirk K, McNeel K, Drevnick PE. The role of melano-macrophage aggregates in the storage of mercury and other metals: an example from yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2015; 34:1918-25. [PMID: 26177920 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Melano-macrophage aggregates, collections of specialized cells of the innate immune system of fish, are considered a general biomarker for contaminant toxicity. To elucidate further the relationship between macrophage aggregates and metals exposure, yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus), a long-lived species, were sampled from the east and west coasts of Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Metals concentrations in livers (inorganic Hg, methyl mercury, Se, Ni, Cd, Cu, Zn) and spleens (inorganic Hg and methyl mercury) were determined, as well as their correlations with melano-macrophage aggregate area. Sections of liver tissue were analyzed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to determine how metals were spatially distributed between hepatocytes and macrophage aggregates. The concentration of inorganic Hg in whole tissue was the best predictor of macrophage area in yelloweye livers and spleens. Macrophage aggregates had higher relative concentrations than most metals compared with the surrounding hepatocytes. However, not all metals were accumulated to the same degree, as evidenced by differences in the ratios of metals in macrophages compared with hepatocytes. Laser ablation data were corroborated with the results of X-ray synchrotron fluorescence imaging of a yelloweye liver section. Hepatic macrophage aggregates in yelloweye rockfish may play an important role in the detoxification and storage of Hg and other metals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristin Bridges
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Applied Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
| | - Malgorzata Korbas
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Applied Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
| | - Kray Van Kirk
- Division of Commercial Fisheries, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Douglas, Alaska, USA
| | - Kevin McNeel
- Division of Commercial Fisheries, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Douglas, Alaska, USA
| | - Paul E Drevnick
- INRS-ETE, Université du Québec, Québec, Québec, Canada
- University of Michigan Biological Station and School of Natural Resources and Environment, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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22
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Olsvik PA, Lindgren M, Maage A. Mercury contamination in deep-water fish: transcriptional responses in tusk (Brosme brosme) from a fjord gradient. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2013; 144-145:172-185. [PMID: 24184472 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent findings have shown that deep-water fish from coastal areas may contain elevated levels of mercury (Hg). Tusk (Brosme brosme) was collected from six locations in Hardangerfjord, a fjord system where the inner parts are contaminated by metals due to historic industrial activity. ICPMS was used to determine the accumulated levels of metals (Hg, MeHg, Cd, Pb, As, and Se) in the fish, whereas oxidative status of the liver was assessed by measuring TBARS, vitamin C, vitamin E and catalase activity. To find out whether accumulated Hg triggers toxicologically relevant transcriptional responses and in order to gain genomic knowledge from a non-model species, the liver transcriptome of the gadoid fish was sequenced and assembled, and RNA-seq and RT-qPCR were used to screen for effects of Hg. The results showed high levels of accumulated Hg in tusk liver, probably reflecting an adaptation to deep-water life history, and only a weak declining outward fjord gradient of Hg concentration in tusk liver. MeHg only accounted for about 17% of total Hg in liver, suggesting hepatotoxicity of both inorganic and organic Hg. Pathway analysis suggested an effect of Hg exposure on lipid metabolism and beta-oxidation in liver. Oxidative stress markers glutathione peroxidase 1 and ferritin mRNA, as well as vitamin C and vitamin E (alpha and gamma tocopherol) showed a significant correlation with accumulated levels of Hg. Many transcripts of genes encoding established markers for Hg exposure were co-regulated in the fish. In conclusion, tusk from Hardangerfjord contains high levels of Hg, with possible hepatic effects on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pål A Olsvik
- National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, Nordnesboder 1-2, N-5005 Bergen, Norway.
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Batchelar KL, Kidd KA, Munkittrick KR, Drevnick PE, Burgess NM. Reproductive health of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from a biological mercury hotspot in Nova Scotia, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 454-455:319-327. [PMID: 23557901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is known to adversely affect the reproductive health of laboratory fish, but its impacts on the sexual development of wild fishes are not well studied. Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (KNPNHS) region of Nova Scotia, Canada, has been identified as a biological mercury (Hg) hotspot. To determine whether Hg was adversely affecting the reproductive health of wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens), sexually mature male and female perch were collected from 12 lakes within KNPNHS (mean muscle total Hg: 0.28-0.54 μg/g ww). Gonadosomatic index and germ cell development of male and female perch were measured, as well as the plasma 17 β-estradiol concentrations of females. These endpoints were compared between lakes, and were related to Hg concentrations measured in perch muscle and liver tissues. Our results indicate that the reproductive health of male and female perch was not adversely impacted by Hg, although a positive relationship existed between the proportions of primary spermatocytes in male testes and muscle total Hg concentrations. Perch were sampled at an early stage of recrudescence, and the tissue Hg concentrations in these perch were generally lower than those in laboratory studies reporting impacts on reproductive health, both of which may explain the absence of effects. Based on the measured endpoints, it appears that reproduction in perch was not affected at Hg concentrations known to affect fish eating wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina L Batchelar
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, 100 Tucker Park Road, Saint John, NB, Canada
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Batchelar KL, Kidd KA, Drevnick PE, Munkittrick KR, Burgess NM, Roberts AP, Smith JD. Evidence of impaired health in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from a biological mercury hotspot in northeastern North America. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2013; 32:627-637. [PMID: 23280620 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Revised: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the effects of mercury (Hg) on wild fish from remote areas, even though these fish can have high total Hg concentrations. In Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (KNPNHS), Nova Scotia, Canada, concentrations of total Hg in many yellow perch (Perca flavescens) currently exceed the estimated threshold level for adverse effects in fish (0.2 µg Hg g(-1) (wet wt), whole body). To determine whether Hg exposure is adversely affecting the general health of these fish, the authors collected male and female perch in the fall of 2009 and 2010 from 12 lakes within KNPNHS. The health endpoints condition, liver somatic index (LSI), and macrophage aggregates (MAs; indicators of oxidative stress and tissue damage) in the liver, kidney, and spleen were examined, and in female perch were compared between lakes and related to Hg concentrations measured in the muscle and liver tissue. No negative relationships between fish condition or LSI and Hg were found. However, within the liver, kidney, and spleen tissues of females, the relative area occupied by MAs was positively related to both muscle and liver Hg concentrations, indicating the health of these perch was adversely affected at the cellular level. These findings raise concerns for the health of these perch as well as for other wild fish populations known to have similarly elevated Hg concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina L Batchelar
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
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Depew DC, Basu N, Burgess NM, Campbell LM, Devlin EW, Drevnick PE, Hammerschmidt CR, Murphy CA, Sandheinrich MB, Wiener JG. Toxicity of dietary methylmercury to fish: derivation of ecologically meaningful threshold concentrations. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2012; 31:1536-47. [PMID: 22549893 DOI: 10.1002/etc.1859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2011] [Revised: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Threshold concentrations associated with adverse effects of dietary exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) were derived from published results of laboratory studies on a variety of fish species. Adverse effects related to mortality were uncommon, whereas adverse effects related to growth occurred only at dietary MeHg concentrations exceeding 2.5 µg g(-1) wet weight. Adverse effects on behavior of fish had a wide range of effective dietary concentrations, but generally occurred above 0.5 µg g(-1) wet weight. In contrast, effects on reproduction and other subclinical endpoints occurred at dietary concentrations that were much lower (<0.2 µg g(-1) wet wt). Field studies generally lack information on dietary MeHg exposure, yet available data indicate that comparable adverse effects have been observed in wild fish in environments corresponding to high and low MeHg contamination of food webs and are in agreement with the threshold concentrations derived here from laboratory studies. These thresholds indicate that while differences in species sensitivity to MeHg exposure appear considerable, chronic dietary exposure to low concentrations of MeHg may have significant adverse effects on wild fish populations but remain little studied compared to concentrations in mammals or birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Depew
- Department of Biology and School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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Chumchal MM, Rainwater TR, Osborn SC, Roberts AP, Abel MT, Cobb GP, Smith PN, Bailey FC. Mercury speciation and biomagnification in the food web of Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana, USA, a subtropical freshwater ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2011; 30:1153-1162. [PMID: 21305578 DOI: 10.1002/etc.477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2010] [Revised: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We studied the biomagnification of total mercury and methylmercury in a subtropical freshwater lake, Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana, USA. The present study is unique in that it not only included invertebrates (seven species) and fish (six species) but also an amphibian (one species), reptiles (three species), and mammals (three species). Nonfish vertebrates such as those included in the present study are often not included in assessments of trophic transfer of Hg. Mean trophic position (determined using stable isotopes of nitrogen) ranged from 2.0 (indicative of a primary consumer) to 3.8 (indicative of a tertiary consumer). Mean total Hg concentrations ranged from 36 to 3,292 ng/g dry weight in muscle and whole body and from 150 to 30,171 ng/g dry weight in liver. Most of the Hg in muscle and whole-body tissue was found as methylmercury, and at least 50% of the Hg found in liver was in the inorganic form (with the exception of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides). Mercury concentrations were positively correlated with trophic position, indicating that biomagnification occurs in the food web of Caddo Lake. The food web magnification factors (FWMFs; slope of the relationship between mean Hg concentration and trophic position) for both total Hg and methylmercury were similar to those observed in other studies. Because most of the total Hg in consumers was methylmercury, the FWMF for methylmercury was not significantly different from the FWMF for total Hg. Some vertebrates examined in the present study had low Hg concentrations in their tissues similar to those observed in invertebrates, whereas others had concentrations of Hg in their tissues that in previous studies have been associated with negative health consequences in fish.
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