1
|
Pinzone M, Amouroux D, Tessier E, Acquarone M, Siebert U, Das K. Dynamics of mercury stable isotope compounds in Arctic seals: New insights from a controlled feeding trial on hooded seals Cystophora cristata. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124450. [PMID: 38944182 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Accurate interpretation of mercury (Hg) isotopic data requires the consideration of several biotic factors such as age, diet, geographical range, and tissue metabolic turnover. A priori knowledge of prey-predator isotopic incorporation rates and Hg biomagnification is essential. This study aims to assess Hg stable isotopes incorporation in an Arctic species of Phocidae, the hooded seal Cystophora cristata, kept in human care for 24 months (2012-2014) and fed on a constant diet of Norwegian Spring Spawning herring Clupea harengus. We measured THg, MMHg and iHg levels, as well as Hg stable isotope composition with both mass dependent (MDF) and mass independent (MIF) fractionation (e.g. δ202Hg and Δ199,200,201,204Hg) in hooded seal kidney, liver, hair and muscle, in addition to herring muscle. We then calculated Hg MDF and MIF isotopic fractionation between hooded seals and their prey. We found a significant shift in δ202Hg between hooded seal hair (+0.80‰) and kidney (-0.78‰), and herring muscle. In hooded seals tissues δ202Hg correlated positively with MMHg percentage. These findings suggest that tissue-specific Hg speciation is the major driver of changes in Hg isotopic fractionation rates in this Arctic predator. Δ199Hg, Δ200Hg, Δ201Hg and Δ204Hg values did not vary between herring and hooded seal tissues, confirming their utility as tracers of Hg marine and atmospheric sources in top predators. To our knowledge, this represents the first attempt to assess complex Hg isotope dynamics in the internal system of Arctic Phocidae, controlling the effects of age, diet, and distribution. Our results confirm the validity of Hg stable isotopes as tracers of environmental Hg sources even in top predators, but emphasize the importance of animal age and tissue selection for inter-study and inter-species comparisons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Pinzone
- Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| | - David Amouroux
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-chimie pour L'Environnement et Les Matériaux, Pau, France
| | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-chimie pour L'Environnement et Les Matériaux, Pau, France
| | - Mario Acquarone
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, The Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany
| | - Krishna Das
- Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pedersen AF, Bayen S, Liu L, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rosing-Asvid A, Ferguson SH, McKinney MA. Nontarget and suspect screening reveals the presence of multiple plastic-related compounds in polar bear, killer whale, narwhal and long-finned pilot whale blubber from East Greenland. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 357:124417. [PMID: 38909771 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124417] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The monitoring of legacy contaminants in sentinel northern marine mammals has revealed some of the highest concentrations globally. However, investigations into the presence of chemicals of emerging Arctic concern (CEACs) and other lesser-known chemicals are rarely conducted, if at all. Here, we used a nontarget/suspect approach to screen for thousands of different chemicals, including many CEACs and plastic-related compounds (PRCs) in blubber/adipose from killer whales (Orcinus orca), narwhals (Monodon monoceros), long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in East Greenland. 138 compounds were tentatively identified mostly as PRCs, and four were confirmed using authentic standards: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP), and one antioxidant (Irganox 1010). Three other PRCs, a nonylphenol isomer, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, and dioctyl sebacate, exhibited fragmentation patterns matching those in library databases. While phthalates were only above detection limits in some polar bear and narwhal, Irganox 1010, nonylphenol, and 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol were detected in >50% of all samples. This study represents the first application of a nontarget/suspect screening approach in Arctic cetaceans, leading to the identification of multiple PRCs in their blubber. Further nontarget analyses are warranted to comprehensively characterize the extent of CEAC and PRC contamination within Arctic marine food webs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Pedersen
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Stéphane Bayen
- Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Lan Liu
- Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
- Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk GL-3900, Greenland
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Garrard SL, Clark JR, Martin N, Nelms SE, Botterell ZLR, Cole M, Coppock RL, Galloway TS, Green DS, Jones M, Lindeque PK, Tillin HM, Beaumont NJ. Identifying potential high-risk zones for land-derived plastic litter to marine megafauna and key habitats within the North Atlantic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171282. [PMID: 38412875 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171282] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The pervasive use of plastic in modern society has led to plastic litter becoming ubiquitous within the ocean. Land-based sources of plastic litter are thought to account for the majority of plastic pollution in the marine environment, with plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, food containers and cutlery among the most common items found. In the marine environment, plastic is a transboundary pollutant, with the potential to cause damage far beyond the political borders from where it originated, making the management of this global pollutant particularly complex. In this study, the risks of land-derived plastic litter (LDPL) to major groups of marine megafauna - seabirds, cetaceans, pinnipeds, elasmobranchs, turtles, sirenians, tuna and billfish - and a selection of productive and biodiverse biogenic habitats - coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, saltmarsh and kelp beds - were analysed using a Spatial Risk Assessment approach. The approach combines metrics for vulnerability (mechanism of harm for megafauna group or habitat), hazard (plastic abundance) and exposure (distribution of group or habitat). Several potential high-risk zones (HRZs) across the North Atlantic were highlighted, including the Azores, the UK, the French and US Atlantic coasts, and the US Gulf of Mexico. Whilst much of the modelled LDPL driving risk in the UK originated from domestic sources, in other HRZs, such as the Azores archipelago and the US Gulf of Mexico, plastic originated almost exclusively from external (non-domestic) sources. LDPL from Caribbean islands - some of the largest generators of marine plastic pollution in the dataset of river plastic emissions used in the study - was noted as a significant input to HRZs across both sides of the Atlantic. These findings highlight the potential of Spatial Risk Assessment analyses to determine the location of HRZs and understand where plastic debris monitoring and management should be prioritised, enabling more efficient deployment of interventions and mitigation measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Garrard
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
| | - James R Clark
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Martin
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Nelms
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Zara L R Botterell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Cole
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L Coppock
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Jones
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
| | - Pennie K Lindeque
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Heidi M Tillin
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Saeed MS, Fahd F, Khan F, Chen B, Sadiq R. Human health risk model for microplastic exposure in the Arctic region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165150. [PMID: 37385486 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics enriched with carcinogens like heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and their derivatives are ubiquitous in Arctic waters. They contaminate the local land and sea-based food sources, which is a significant health hazard. It is thus imperative to assess the risk posed by them to the nearby communities, which primarily rely on locally available food sources to meet their energy requirements. This paper proposes a novel ecotoxicity model to assess the human health risk posed by microplastics. The region's geophysical and environmental conditions affecting human microplastic intake, along with the human physiological parameters influencing biotransformation, are incorporated into the developed causation model. It investigates the carcinogenic risk associated with microplastic intake in humans via ingestion in terms of incremental excess lifetime cancer risk (IELCR). The model first evaluates microplastic intake and then uses reactive metabolites produced due to the interaction of microplastics with xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes to assess cellular mutations that result in cancer. All these conditions are mapped in an Object-Oriented Bayesian Network (OOBN) framework to evaluate IELCR. The study will provide a vital tool for formulating better risk management strategies and policies in the Arctic region, especially concerning Arctic Indigenous peoples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sadiq Saeed
- Centre for Risk, Integrity, and Safety Engineering (C-RISE) Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada A1B 3X5; Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC), Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, College Station TX 77843, USA
| | - Faisal Fahd
- Centre for Risk, Integrity, and Safety Engineering (C-RISE) Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada A1B 3X5
| | - Faisal Khan
- Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC), Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, College Station TX 77843, USA.
| | - Bing Chen
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control Laboratory (NRPOP Lab), Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada A1B 3X5
| | - Rehan Sadiq
- School of Engineering, Okanagan Campus, Faculty of Applied Science University of British Columbia, Okanagan, BC, Canada V1V 1V7
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Haarr ML, Bach L, Chambers CP, Falk-Andersson J, Juul-Pedersen T, Metcalfe RD, Sinisalo A, Strand J, Svendsen H, Baak JE, Björnsdóttir HH, Brenner EMK, Christiansen S, Delattre C, Gauthier M, Georgiou RH, Günther L, Hägg F, Markussen U, Parga Martínez KB, le Pevedic A, Refosco A, Tandberg BKR, Tulatz F, Van Broeck S, Visser NT, Wittwer L. Beach litter sources around Nuuk, Greenland: An analysis by UArctic summer school graduate course students. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114914. [PMID: 37080021 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Modeling studies illustrate the potential for long-range transport of plastics into the Arctic, although the degree to which this occurs remains relatively undocumented. We utilised a teaching exercise at a UArctic summer school graduate course in Nuuk, Greenland to conduct a preliminary in-depth analysis of beach litter sources in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord. Students and instructors collected and analysed 1800 litter items weighing 200 kg from one location in the fjord and another at its mouth. The results suggest a predominance of local sources to macrolitter, rather than long-range transport from Europe. Fisheries-related items and rope were common. Packaging which could be identified was largely suspected to be products distributed in Greenland, and soft plastics, which rarely disperse far from its source, were also common. The results suggest local measures to reduce mismanaged waste and emissions from fisheries are important for reducing marine litter in West Greenland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lis Bach
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jakob Strand
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Denmark.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Fanny Hägg
- UArctic International Secretariat, Finland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jardine AM, Provencher JF, Insley SJ, Tauzer L, Halliday WD, Bourdages MPT, Houde M, Muir D, Vermaire JC. No accumulation of microplastics detected in western Canadian ringed seals (Pusa hispida). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114692. [PMID: 36753811 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) play a crucial role in Arctic food webs as important pelagic predators and represent an essential component of Inuvialuit culture and food security. Plastic pollution is recognized as a global threat of concern, and Arctic regions may act as sinks for anthropogenic debris. To date, mixed evidence exists concerning the propensity for Canadian Arctic marine mammals to ingest and retain plastic. Our study builds on existing literature by offering the first assessment of plastic ingestion in ringed seals harvested in the western Canadian Arctic. We detected no evidence of microplastic (particles ≥80 μm) retention in the stomachs of ten ringed seals from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) in the Northwest Territories, Canada. These results are consistent with previous studies that have found that some marine mammals do not accumulate microplastics in evaluated regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Jardine
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Change Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Institute for Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Change Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Institute for Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa K1S 5B6, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Insley
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada), 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 0E9, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Lila Tauzer
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada), 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 0E9, Canada
| | - William D Halliday
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada), 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 0E9, Canada; School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Madelaine P T Bourdages
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Change Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Institute for Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Magali Houde
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, 105 McGill Street, Montreal, QC, H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Derek Muir
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, 105 McGill Street, Montreal, QC, H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Jesse C Vermaire
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Change Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Institute for Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Collard F, Bangjord G, Herzke D, Gabrielsen GW. Plastic burdens in northern fulmars from Svalbard: Looking back 25 years. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114333. [PMID: 36372049 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis ingests a larger number of (micro)plastics than many other seabirds due to its feeding habits and gut morphology. Since 2002, they are bioindicators of marine plastics in the North Sea region, and data are needed to extend the programme to other parts of their distribution areas, such as the Arctic. In this study, we provide data on ingested plastics by fulmars collected in 1997 in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. An extraction protocol with KOH was used and for half of the birds, the gizzard and the proventricular contents were analysed separately. Ninety-one percent of the birds had ingested at least one piece of plastic with an average of 10.3 (±11.9 SD) pieces. The gizzards contained significantly more plastics than the proventriculus. Hard fragments and polyethylene were the most common characteristics. Twelve percent of the birds exceeded the EcoQO value of 0.1 g.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- France Collard
- The Norwegian Polar Institute-NPI, Postboks 6606, Fram Centre, Stakkevollan, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Georg Bangjord
- The Norwegian Environment Agency, P.O. Box 5672, Torgarden, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Dorte Herzke
- The Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Geir W Gabrielsen
- The Norwegian Polar Institute-NPI, Postboks 6606, Fram Centre, Stakkevollan, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| |
Collapse
|