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Polasko AL, Koutnik VS, Tsai K, Alkidim S, Borthakur A, Mohanty S, Mahendra S. Evaluation of historical data on persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in Lake Baikal: Implications for accumulation in marine environments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119035. [PMID: 38685302 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake by volume, provides drinking water and aquatic food supplies to over 2.5 million people. However, the lake has been contaminated with recalcitrant pollutants released from surrounding industrial complexes, agriculture, and natural lands, thereby increasing the risk of their bioaccumulation in fish and seals. Yet, a collective analysis of historical concentration data and their bioaccumulation potential as well as what factors drive their accumulation in fish or seals remains largely unknown. We analyzed concentration data from 42 studies collected between 1985 and 2019 in water, sediment, fish, and seals of Lake Baikal. Heavy metals had the highest concentrations in water and biota followed closely by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorines. Among organochlorines, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) showed the highest levels in water, surpassing hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) concentrations, particularly after normalizing to solubility. While naphthalene and phenanthrene exhibited the highest average concentrations among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their relative concentrations significantly decreased upon solubility normalization. The analysis confirmed that bioconcentration and biomagnification of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals depend primarily on source strength to drive their concentration in water and secondarily on their chemical characteristics as evidenced by the higher concentrations of low-solubility PCBs and high molecular weight PAHs in water and sediment. The differential biomagnification patterns of Cu, Hg, and Zn compared to Pb are attributed to their distinct sources and bioavailability, with Cu, Hg, and Zn showing more pronounced biomagnification due to prolonged industrial release, in contrast to the declining Pb levels. Dibenzo-p-dioxins were detected in sediment and seals, but not in water or fish compartments. These data highlight the importance of addressing even low concentrations of organic and inorganic pollutants and the need for more consistent and frequent monitoring to ensure the future usability of this and other similar essential natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah Alkidim
- Brown University, Department of Physics, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Annesh Borthakur
- St. Louis University, Department of Civil, Computer, and Electrical Engineering, 1 N. Grand Blvd, St. Lous, MO, USA
| | - Sanjay Mohanty
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Kieffer L, Sørås R, Ciesielski TM, Stawski C. Species and reproductive status influence element concentrations in bat fur. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122092. [PMID: 37348695 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122092] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
To assess the impact of increasing pollutant levels on wildlife, we measured chemical contaminant loads in bats with different habitat and dietary preferences. Samples were taken from the fur of bats (Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis brandtii, Myotis mystacinus and Plecotus auritus) to measure concentrations of 55 elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Variations in element concentrations between different bat groups (species, sex, reproductive status) were analysed with a focus on arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) as these are known to cause specific health concerns in wildlife. For M. brandtii we found the highest As concentrations, especially in lactating bats, with a maximum exceeding those from other studies where bats had compromised health. Whereas for M. mystacinus there was a negative correlation between body condition index (BCI) and As concentration, indicating a potential danger for bats in the study area. In M. mystacinus and M. brandtii Hg concentrations were higher for sixteen individuals than in other studies where bats suffered genotoxic effects, although median levels were still below this threshold. Lactating bats from P. auritus and M. brandtii had higher Hg concentrations than bats of other reproductive status, which could endanger offspring as Hg can be transferred through lactation. In females from M. mystacinus Pb concentrations were more than three times higher compared to males. There was also a negative correlation between Pb concentration and BCI, which could mean that Pb has an adverse effect on health. Although many other biotic and abiotic factors should be considered, some of the variations in element concentrations could be due to different behaviours (foraging, roosting, etc.) in the studied species. The high levels of chemical contamination in some of the bats in our study, particularly reproductive individuals, is of conservation concern as bats are important agents for insect control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Kieffer
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway
| | - Rune Sørås
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway
| | - Tomasz M Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway; Department of Arctic Technology, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, 9171, Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Clare Stawski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway; School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558, Australia.
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Hoseini SM, Namroodi S, Sayadshirazi A, Zaccaroni A. Trace Elements and Contaminants Concentrations in Tissues of Caspian Seals ( Pusa caspica) along the Iranian Coast. TOXICS 2022; 11:39. [PMID: 36668765 PMCID: PMC9865950 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Caspian seal (Pusa caspica) is an endangered species that only lives in the Caspian Sea. Little information is available on its exposure to contaminants, and no data exists for Southern sub-populations. From 2011 to 2016, tissues samples were collected from 20 Caspian seals to (i) Define the concentration of trace elements in five different matrices and the concentration of 30 pesticides in their blubber; (ii) Determine whether differences in contaminant concentrations are age- or sex-related; (iii) Evaluate if detected concentrations can represent a risk to the species. Age- and sex-related variations were detected for Zn and Hg in the blubber and Fe in the kidney by age only. Exceptionally high Hg concentrations and low levels of hepatic Zn were detected, raising some concern about the reproductive health of seals. Similarly, the DDTs levels detected were in the range of adverse reproductive effects in marine mammals. Based on these results, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine systems of the Caspian seal cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of conservation strategies for the Caspian seal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Malihe Hoseini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
| | - Somayeh Namroodi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
| | | | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 47042 Cesenatico, Italy
- MarLab, 06250 Mougins, France
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Tian J, Lu Z, Sanganyado E, Gan Z, Wang Z, Kong Z, Wu J, Liu W. Tissue distribution and trophic magnification of trace elements in typical marine mammals in Bohai and north Yellow Seas. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114135. [PMID: 36152498 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A total of 20 stranded spotted seals (Phoca largha) and 9 stranded minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) were collected from Liaodong Bay and the northern part of the Yellow Sea to investigate the tissue distribution (liver, kidney, heart, lung, and muscle), risk, and trophic magnification of 13 trace elements (TEs, Hg, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V, Zn). The 13 TEs were all detected in all spotted seal and minke whale tissue samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 0.041 to 136.3 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw) and 0.022 to 152.6 mg kg-1 dw, respectively. Zn was the dominant contaminant in all tissues for both spotted seals and minke whales. There was tissue-specific distribution of TEs in both marine mammals, and the TEs tended to accumulate in internal organs. Significant positive correlations were found in the body length of the spotted seals and minke whales among some of the TEs, especially for Cd in the internal organs. Gender-dependent distribution of the TEs was not obtained for the spotted seal. Ecological risk evaluation for spotted seals and minke whales suggested that greater concern should be given to Hg, As, and Se. Based on the TE concentrations detected in this study and trophic levels determined by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, trophic level-associated biodilution was obtained for As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, Se, Sn, and V in the spotted seal, while Zn displayed a significant biomagnification trend with increasing trophic levels. In the case of the minke whale, As, Cd, Co, Mn, Pb, Se, and V displayed significant biomagnification trends with increasing trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashen Tian
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhichuang Lu
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Zhiwei Gan
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Zhongren Kong
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Jinhao Wu
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China.
| | - Wenhua Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
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Latorre-Padilla N, Meynard A, Rivas J, Contreras-Porcia L. Transfer of Pollutants from Macrocystis pyrifera to Tetrapygus niger in a Highly Impacted Coastal Zone of Chile. TOXICS 2021; 9:244. [PMID: 34678940 PMCID: PMC8539136 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9100244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PAHs and heavy metals are characteristic pollutants in urbanized coastal areas, especially those with industrial activity. Given this context and the ability of Macrocystis pyrifera to drift when detached and provide trophic subsidy in coastal systems, we analyzed the potential transfer of pollutants to the herbivore Tetrapygus niger, through diet, in an industrialized coastal zone in Central Chile (Caleta Horcón) and characterized the impacted zone using diverse polluted ecotoxicological indices. For this purpose, a culture experiment was conducted where M. pyrifera individuals from Algarrobo (control site) were cultivated in Caleta Horcón and then used as food for T. niger. The contents of both PAHs and heavy metal contents were subsequently determined in algal tissue and sea urchin gonads as well as in the seawater. The results show that algae cultivated in Caleta Horcón had higher concentrations of naphthalene (NAF) compared to those from a low industrial impact zone (Algarrobo) (2.5 and 1.8 mg kg-1, respectively). The concentrations of Cu, As, and Cd were higher in Caleta Horcón than in Algarrobo in both M. pyrifera and T. niger. For all metals, including Pb, higher concentrations were present in T. niger than in M. pyrifera (between 5 and 798 times higher). Additionally, as indicated by the toxicological indices MPI (0.00804) and PLI (10.89), Caleta Horcón is highly contaminated with metals compared to Algarrobo (0.0006 and 0.015, respectively). Finally, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and trophic transfer factor (TTF) values were greater than one in most cases, with values in Caleta Horcón exceeding those in Algarrobo by one or two orders of magnitude. This study provides evidence that Caleta Horcón is a highly impacted zone (HIZ) compared to Algarrobo, in addition to evidence that the biomagnification of certain pollutants, including the possible responses to contaminants, are apparently not exclusively transferred to T. niger through diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Latorre-Padilla
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, Chile; (N.L.-P.); (A.M.); (J.R.)
- Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Valparaíso, Quintay 2531015, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), Santiago 8370251, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, Chile
| | - Andrés Meynard
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, Chile; (N.L.-P.); (A.M.); (J.R.)
- Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Valparaíso, Quintay 2531015, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), Santiago 8370251, Chile
| | - Jorge Rivas
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, Chile; (N.L.-P.); (A.M.); (J.R.)
- Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Valparaíso, Quintay 2531015, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), Santiago 8370251, Chile
| | - Loretto Contreras-Porcia
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, Chile; (N.L.-P.); (A.M.); (J.R.)
- Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Valparaíso, Quintay 2531015, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), Santiago 8370251, Chile
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Poste AE, Pastukhov MV, Braaten HFV, Ozersky T, Moore M. Past and present mercury accumulation in the Lake Baikal seal: Temporal trends, effects of life history, and toxicological implications. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2018; 37:1476-1486. [PMID: 29341225 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite global efforts to reduce anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions, the timescale and degree to which Hg concentrations in the environment and biota respond to decreased emissions remain challenging to assess or predict. In the present study we characterize long-term trends and life-history patterns in Hg accumulation and toxicological implications of Hg contamination for a freshwater seal from one of the world's largest lakes (Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia) using contemporary tissues and archival teeth. Stable isotope analysis and Hg analyses of soft tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, blood, brain, heart) and teeth from 22 contemporary seals revealed rapid changes in diet and Hg accumulation in the first year of life with a stable diet and increase in tissue Hg throughout the rest of life. Although maternal transfer of Hg was an important source of Hg to seal pups, reproduction and lactation by female seals did not appear to result in sex-related differences in Hg concentrations or age-related accumulation in adult seals. Based on Hg analysis of archival teeth (n = 114) and reconstructed values for soft tissues, we also assessed temporal trends in seal Hg between the years 1960 and 2013. Seal Hg concentrations in hard (teeth) and soft (e.g., muscle, liver) tissues were highest in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by a decrease. The decline in seal Hg concentrations in recent decades was most likely driven by a reduction in Hg inputs to the lake, suggesting that global and regional efforts to reduce Hg emissions have been successful at reducing ecosystem and human health risks posed by Hg in Lake Baikal. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1476-1486. © 2018 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mikhail V Pastukhov
- Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
| | | | - Ted Ozersky
- Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA
- University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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Dewaele L, Amson E, Lambert O, Louwye S. Reappraisal of the extinct seal " Phoca" vitulinoides from the Neogene of the North Sea Basin, with bearing on its geological age, phylogenetic affinities, and locomotion. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3316. [PMID: 28533965 PMCID: PMC5436577 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Discovered on the southern margin of the North Sea Basin, “Phoca” vitulinoides represents one of the best-known extinct species of Phocidae. However, little attention has been given to the species ever since its original 19th century description. Newly discovered material, including the most complete specimen of fossil Phocidae from the North Sea Basin, prompted the redescription of the species. Also, the type material of “Phoca” vitulinoides is lost. Methods “Phoca” vitulinoides is redescribed. Its phylogenetic position among Phocinae is assessed through phylogenetic analysis. Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy is used to determine and reassess the geological age of the species. Myological descriptions of extant taxa are used to infer muscle attachments, and basic comparative anatomy of the gross morphology and biomechanics are applied to reconstruct locomotion. Results Detailed redescription of “Phoca” vitulinoides indicates relatively little affinities with the genus Phoca, but rather asks for the establishment of a new genus: Nanophoca gen. nov. Hence, “Phoca” vitulinoides is recombined into Nanophoca vitulinoides. This reassignment is confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis, grouping the genus Nanophoca and other extinct phocine taxa as stem phocines. Biostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy expand the known stratigraphic range of N. vitulinoides from the late Langhian to the late Serravallian. The osteological anatomy of N. vitulinoides indicates a relatively strong development of muscles used for fore flipper propulsion and increased flexibility for the hind flipper. Discussion The extended stratigraphic range of N. vitulinoides into the middle Miocene confirms relatively early diversification of Phocinae in the North Atlantic. Morphological features on the fore- and hindlimb of the species point toward an increased use of the fore flipper and greater flexibility of the hind flipper as compared to extant Phocinae, clearly indicating less derived locomotor strategies in this Miocene phocine species. Estimations of the overall body size indicate that N. vitulinoides is much smaller than Pusa, the smallest extant genus of Phocinae (and Phocidae), and than most extinct phocines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Dewaele
- Department of Geology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,O.D. Earth and History of Life, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eli Amson
- Arbeitsgruppe Morphologie und Formengeschichte, Humboldt Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Lambert
- O.D. Earth and History of Life, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
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Finger A, Lavers JL, Dann P, Kowalczyk ND, Scarpaci C, Nugegoda D, Orbell JD. Metals and metalloids in Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) prey, blood and faeces. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 223:567-574. [PMID: 28159398 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Piscivorous species like the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) are particularly at risk of being negatively impacted by pollution due to their heightened exposure through aquatic food chains. Therefore, determining the concentration of heavy metals in the fish prey of seabirds is an essential component of assessing such risk. In this study, we report on arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and selenium concentrations in three fish species, which are known to comprise a substantial part of the diet of Little Penguins at the urban colony of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. Metal concentrations in the fish sampled were generally within the expected limits, however, arsenic and mercury were higher than reported elsewhere. Anchovy (Engraulis australis) and sandy sprat (Hyperlophus vittatus) contained higher Hg concentrations than pilchard (Sardinops sagax), while sandy sprat and pilchard contained more selenium. We present these findings together with metal concentrations in Little Penguin blood and faeces, sampled within weeks of the fish collection. Mercury concentrations were highest in the blood, while faeces and fish prey species contained similar concentrations of arsenic and lead, suggesting faeces as a primary route of detoxification for these elements. We also investigated paired blood - faecal samples and found a correlation for selenium only. Preliminary data from stable isotope ratios in penguin blood indicate that changes in penguin blood mercury concentrations cannot be explained by trophic changes in their diet alone, suggesting a variation of bioavailable Hg within this semi-enclosed bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annett Finger
- Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia
| | - Peter Dann
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia
| | - Nicole D Kowalczyk
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Carol Scarpaci
- Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
| | - Dayanthi Nugegoda
- RMIT University, School of Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John D Orbell
- Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
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Formigaro C, Karamanlidis AA, Dendrinos P, Marsili L, Silvi M, Zaccaroni A. Trace element concentrations in the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 576:528-537. [PMID: 27810742 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. The biggest sub-population of the species survives in Greece, where understanding the effects of pollution on the survival of the species has been identified as a national research and conservation priority. From 1990 to 2013 we collected tissue samples from 59 deceased monk seals in order to: (i) Define the concentration of trace elements (As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cr, Ni) in three different matrices (i.e., blubber, liver and kidney), (ii) Determine whether differences in trace element concentrations are age- or gender-related, (iii) Evaluate the potential effects of these pollutants. The study recorded differences in trace element concentrations among matrices, but in general, trace element exposure in Mediterranean monk seals in Greece was low and within the non-acutely toxic levels for Pinnipeds. Only arsenic concentrations were at the upper limit of the normal range observed in other marine mammals (0.69±0.55mg/kg w.w. in blubber, 0.79±0.62mg/kg w.w. in liver and 0.79±0.59mg/kg w.w. in kidney). We recorded also exceptionally high Hg concentrations in a single adult female (24.88mg/kg w.w.). Age- and gender-related differences were also recorded and were due to various biological, ecological and chemical factors. Based on the results of the study, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine system of the Mediterranean monk seal from some pollutants (e.g., As, Cd, Se, Ni, Cr) cannot be ruled out, which may expose the Mediterranean seal population in Greece to epizootics and stochastic phenomena of mass mortality. It is therefore of utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of the standard monitoring protocol of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Formigaro
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Marina Silvi
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy.
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Ciesielski TM, Pastukhov MV, Leeves SA, Farkas J, Lierhagen S, Poletaeva VI, Jenssen BM. Differential bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements in benthic and pelagic food chains in Lake Baikal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:15593-15604. [PMID: 27130338 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6634-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Lake Baikal is located in eastern Siberia in the center of a vast mountain region. Even though the lake is regarded as a unique and pristine ecosystem, there are existing sources of anthropogenic pollution to the lake. In this study, the concentrations of the potentially toxic trace elements As, Cd, Pb, Hg, and Se were analyzed in water, plankton, invertebrates, and fish from riverine and pelagic influenced sites in Lake Baikal. Concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and Se in Lake Baikal water and biota were low, while concentrations of As were similar or slightly higher compared to in other freshwater ecosystems. The bioaccumulation potential of the trace elements in both the pelagic and the benthic ecosystems differed between the Selenga Shallows (riverine influence) and the Listvenichnyĭ Bay (pelagic influence). Despite the one order of magnitude higher water concentrations of Pb in the Selenga Shallows, Pb concentrations were significantly higher in both pelagic and benthic fish from the Listvenichnyĭ Bay. A similar trend was observed for Cd, Hg, and Se. The identified enhanced bioavailability of contaminants in the pelagic influenced Listvenichnyĭ Bay may be attributed to a lower abundance of natural ligands for contaminant complexation. Hg was found to biomagnify in both benthic and pelagic Baikal food chains, while As, Cd, and Pb were biodiluted. At both locations, Hg concentrations were around seven times higher in benthic than in pelagic fish, while pelagic fish had two times higher As concentrations compared to benthic fish. The calculated Se/Hg molar ratios revealed that, even though Lake Baikal is located in a Se-deficient region, Se is still present in excess over Hg and therefore the probability of Hg induced toxicity in the endemic fish species of Lake Baikal is assumed to be low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz M Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Mikhail V Pastukhov
- Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia
| | - Sara A Leeves
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Julia Farkas
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Environmental Technology, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Brattørkaia 17c, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Syverin Lierhagen
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vera I Poletaeva
- Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia
| | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
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Bergés-Tiznado ME, Fernando Márquez-Farías J, Torres-Rojas Y, Galván-Magaña F, Páez-Osuna F. Mercury and selenium in tissues and stomach contents of the migratory sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, from the Eastern Pacific: Concentration, biomagnification, and dietary intake. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 101:349-358. [PMID: 26490411 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mercury and selenium were assessed in the sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, from the Eastern Pacific. Sixty-seven individuals were sampled, muscle, liver, kidney, gonads and the prey found in the stomach contents were isolated during fishing 2011-2013 tournaments. Hg exhibited the following pattern (μg g(-1) wet weight): liver (0.57 ± 0.07)>muscle (0.56 ± 0.04)>kidney (0.44 ± 0.08)>gonad (0.14 ± 0.01). The maximum concentration of Se was found in kidneys (14.1 ± 1.9 μg g(-1)), and the minimum in muscles (0.67 ± 0.03 μg g(-1)). High Se:Hg ratios were found for muscle (4.1 ± 0.3), kidney (132.4 ± 12.1), liver (54.0 ± 4.4) and gonads (88.2 ± 7.9); Hg:Se molar ratios were several orders of magnitude lower (muscle<0.4 and liver, kidney and gonad<0.03). Sailfish feed mainly on fishes and cephalopods with low Hg levels (<0.13 μg g(-1)), these results indicate biomagnification of Hg and Se. The muscle of I. platypterus should be consumed (according the provisional tolerable weekly intake) by people cautiously so as not to exceed the recommended intake of 215 g per week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena E Bergés-Tiznado
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, P.O. Box 811, C.P. 82000 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - J Fernando Márquez-Farías
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Paseo Claussen S/N Col. Los Pinos, C.P. 82000 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Yassir Torres-Rojas
- Instituto de Ecología, Pesquerías y Oceanografía del Golfo de México, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche (EPOMEX-UAC), Campus 6. Av. Héroe de Nacozari #480, C.P. 24029 Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
| | - Felipe Galván-Magaña
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Av. IPN S/N Col. Playa de Santa Rita, C.P. 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Federico Páez-Osuna
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, P.O. Box 811, C.P. 82000 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico; Miembro de El Colegio de Sinaloa, Antonio Rosales 435 Pte, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
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12
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Polak-Juszczak L. Bioaccumulation of mercury in the trophic chain of flatfish from the Baltic Sea. CHEMOSPHERE 2012; 89:585-591. [PMID: 22704208 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury concentrations in three flatfish species - flounder (Platichtys flesus), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), and Baltic turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), netted in the southern Baltic Sea were assessed and compared to concentrations of this metal in sediments, sea water, and flatfish food - bivalve Macoma balthica, isopod Saduria entomon, and sprat (Sprattus sprattus). Collected simultaneously with flatfish in 2009 and 2010. Different concentrations of mercury depending on species, tissue or organ, sex, individual length, kind of food, and region were determined. The muscle tissues of turbot had the highest concentrations of the metal. The bioaccumulation (BF) and biomagnification (BMF) factors has been counted showing that the muscle tissues of turbot have maximum affinity for mercury, and thus best reflected the metal contamination of the Baltic Sea environment. The data suggest that the common Baltic turbot (S. maximus) is an important model species, suitable and cost-effective to biomonitor environmental mercury pollution for ecological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucyna Polak-Juszczak
- Department of Food and Environmental Chemistry, National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, ul. Kołłątaja 1, Gdynia 81-332, Poland.
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13
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Perrot V, Pastukhov MV, Epov VN, Husted S, Donard OFX, Amouroux D. Higher mass-independent isotope fractionation of methylmercury in the pelagic food web of Lake Baikal (Russia). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:5902-11. [PMID: 22545798 DOI: 10.1021/es204572g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Mercury undergoes several transformations that influence its stable isotope composition during a number of environmental and biological processes. Measurements of Hg isotopic mass-dependent (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation (MIF) in food webs may therefore help to identify major sources and processes leading to significant bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg). In this work, δ(13)C, δ(15)N, concentration of Hg species (MeHg, inorganic Hg), and stable isotopic composition of Hg were determined at different trophic levels of the remote and pristine Lake Baikal ecosystem. Muscle of seals and different fish as well as amphipods, zooplankton, and phytoplankton were specifically investigated. MDF during trophic transfer of MeHg leading to enrichment of heavier isotopes in the predators was clearly established by δ(202)Hg measurements in the pelagic prey-predator system (carnivorous sculpins and top-predator seals). Despite the low concentrations of Hg in the ecosystem, the pelagic food web reveals very high MIF Δ(199)Hg (3.15-6.65‰) in comparison to coastal fish (0.26-1.65‰) and most previous studies in aquatic organisms. Trophic transfer does not influence MIF signature since similar Δ(199)Hg was observed in sculpins (4.59 ± 0.55‰) and seal muscles (4.62 ± 0.60‰). The MIF is suggested to be mainly controlled by specific physical and biogeochemical characteristics of the water column. The higher level of MIF in pelagic fish of Lake Baikal is mainly due to the bioaccumulation of residual MeHg that is efficiently turned over and photodemethylated in deep oligotrophic and stationary (i.e., long residence time) freshwater columns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Perrot
- Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement, Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l'Environnement et les Matériaux, CNRS-UPPA-UMR-5254, Hélioparc, 2 Avenue du Président Pierre Angot, Pau, 64053, France.
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14
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Misztal-Szkudlińska M, Szefer P, Konieczka P, Namieśnik J. Biomagnification of mercury in trophic relation of Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and fish in the Vistula Lagoon, Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2011; 176:439-49. [PMID: 20623377 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-010-1595-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined by CV-AAS in selected tissues (liver, kidney, and muscle) of the Great Cormorant and some fish species (herring, ruffe, European smelt, tench, roach, Crucian carp, and Prussian carp) from the Vistula Lagoon ecosystem (Poland). Significant correlations between Hg concentrations in the kidneys and muscle of cormorants (U test, p<0.05) were found; levels of the metal were highest in the birds' liver and kidneys. Total Hg concentrations in the fish decreased in the following order: roach > Prussian carp > Crucian carp > tench > European smelt > ruffe > herring. The biomagnification factor of Hg for the cormorant relative to the fish decreased in the following sequence: herring > ruffe > European smelt > tench > Crucian carp > roach = Prussian carp. It was significantly greater than unity, especially for the cormorant-herring trophic relationship. This implies that Hg is biomagnified in the cormorant in relation to its prey.
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15
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Ciesielski T, Pastukhov MV, Szefer P, Jenssen BM. Bioaccumulation of mercury in the pelagic food chain of the Lake Baikal. CHEMOSPHERE 2010; 78:1378-1384. [PMID: 20117820 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.12.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2009] [Revised: 12/26/2009] [Accepted: 12/28/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) concentrations were analyzed in the livers of Baikal seals and in plankton, zoobenthos and fish which constitute food items for the seals. Concentrations of Hg in the liver of Baikal seals were up to two orders of magnitude lower than those in seals inhabiting other lakes. The low levels of Hg are due to the low levels of the Hg in the fish from the family Comephoride, which reflect the very low concentrations of Hg in Baikal water. The development stage (pups and adults) and the sex of the seals have significant influence on their hepatic Hg concentrations. The differences between Hg accumulation in adult males, adult females and pups could be attributed to the reproductive cycle of the Baikal seals. In spite of low concentrations, Hg is characterized by high values of the concentration factor (CF) for the livers of for Baikal seals. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) suggest biomagnifications of Hg in the fish-seal trophic link.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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16
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Udaka M, Ikemoto T, Zenke H, Takahashi S, Batoev VB, Petrov EA, Tanabe S. Radionuclide ((137)Cs and (40)K) concentrations in the muscle of Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica) from Lake Baikal. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2009; 58:290-294. [PMID: 19117578 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2008] [Revised: 11/06/2008] [Accepted: 11/07/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Udaka
- Ehime Prefectual Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Sanban-cho 8-234, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-0003, Japan.
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17
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Stavros HCW, Bonde RK, Fair PA. Concentrations of trace elements in blood and skin of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2008; 56:1221-1225. [PMID: 18468646 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2008] [Revised: 03/14/2008] [Accepted: 03/22/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Chen W Stavros
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412-9110, USA.
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Stavros HCW, Bossart GD, Hulsey TC, Fair PA. Trace element concentrations in blood of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): influence of age, sex and location. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2008; 56:371-379. [PMID: 18062997 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2007] [Revised: 10/07/2007] [Accepted: 10/26/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Chen W Stavros
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC 29412-9110, USA.
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Ammann AA. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS): a versatile tool. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2007; 42:419-27. [PMID: 17385793 DOI: 10.1002/jms.1206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry (MS) is routinely used in many diverse research fields such as earth, environmental, life and forensic sciences and in food, material, chemical, semiconductor and nuclear industries. The high ion density and the high temperature in a plasma provide an ideal atomizer and element ionizer for all types of samples and matrices introduced by a variety of specialized devices. Outstanding properties such as high sensitivity (ppt-ppq), relative salt tolerance, compound-independent element response and highest quantitation accuracy lead to the unchallenged performance of ICP MS in efficiently detecting, identifying and reliably quantifying trace elements. The increasing availability of relevant reference compounds and high separation selectivity extend the molecular identification capability of ICP MS hyphenated to species-specific separation techniques. While molecular ion source MS is specialized in determining the structure of unknown molecules, ICP MS is an efficient and highly sensitive tool for target-element orientated discoveries of relevant and unknown compounds. This special-feature, tutorial article presents the principle and advantages of ICP MS, highlighting these using examples from recently published investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian A Ammann
- EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-Duebendorf, Switzerland.
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20
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Balter V, Simon L. Diet and behavior of the Saint-Césaire Neanderthal inferred from biogeochemical data inversion. J Hum Evol 2006; 51:329-38. [PMID: 16908051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2005] [Revised: 12/12/2005] [Accepted: 04/03/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Biogeochemistry is a powerful tool for dietary reconstruction, and mixing equations can be used to quantify the contribution of multiple sources to an individual's diet. The goals of this paper are: 1) to generalize the inverse method to dietary mixtures; and 2) to reconstruct the diet of the Saint-Césaire Neanderthal using Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca data of the mineral fraction of bone (hydroxylapatite), and with published delta13C and delta15N data of the associated organic fraction of bone (collagen). A new method is proposed to calculate the maximum diagenetic contribution of the Sr/Ba ratio, assuming that the soil soluble fraction is the diagenetic end-member and, for a given fraction of diagenesis, allows the restoration of the original Sr/Ba ratio. Considering the Saint-Césaire Châtelperronian mammalian assemblage as the meat source, and on the basis of available Sr, Ba, and Ca contents of plants, the results indicate that the percentage of plants in the Neanderthal's diet must have been close to zero for realistic Sr and Ba impoverishment between diet and hydroxylapatite. Contrary to previous studies, it is shown that fish could constitute a significant proportion (30%) of the diet of the Saint-Césaire Neanderthal. However, this mass balance solution is not supported by the zooarchaeological data. When the entire faunal assemblage is considered as the dietary source, the calculation shows that bovids (except reindeer) represent the greatest percentage of consumed meat (58%), followed by horses/rhinoceros (22%), reindeer (13%), and mammoths (7%). These respective percentages are in close accordance with zooarchaeological records, suggesting that the faunal assemblage associated with the Neanderthal of Saint-Césaire reliably reflects what he ate during the last few years of his life. In behavioral terms, this result supports the hypothesis that this Neanderthal carried the foodstuffs back to the Saint-Césaire shelter before their consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Balter
- UMR 5125 CNRS-Lyon I PaléoEnvironnement et PaléobioSphère, Université Claude Bernard, Campus de la Doua, Bâtiment Géode, Bd du 11/11/1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
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Ciesielski T, Szefer P, Bertenyi Z, Kuklik I, Skóra K, Namieśnik J, Fodor P. Interspecific distribution and co-associations of chemical elements in the liver tissue of marine mammals from the Polish Economical Exclusive Zone, Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2006; 32:524-32. [PMID: 16488474 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2005.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2004] [Accepted: 12/14/2005] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of Al, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sr, Tl, V, Zn, Ca, K, Mg, Na and P in the livers of marine mammals obtained from by-catches or stranded on beaches on the Polish Baltic coast were determined by ICP-MS or ICP-AES and CV AAS. Interspecific diversity with respect to the contents of these elements was found in cetaceans and pinnipeds. The diverse Cd contents in the livers of these mammals can be attributed to the variable concentrations of this element in their food. Mercury was correlated with age and can reach high concentration associated with higher level of Se in older specimens. No significant relationships were found between concentration of the chemical elements studied and nutritional status/condition of the Baltic harbour porpoises as well as between their concentration in specimens from the Gulf of Gdańsk and open Baltic. It seems that the nutritional and health status of the specimens studied is generally enough good since the specimens studied were not stranded on beach because of starvation but almost incidentally caught in salmon gill nets. Strong correlations were found between the macroelements analysed, i.e. for the Ba-Ca-Sr, Ca-K, Ca-Mg, Mg-P, Zn-Mg and Zn-P assemblies. Significantly higher content of Al was found in males of harbour porpoises.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ciesielski
- Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
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