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Rosenbaum D, Montaña CG, Zhang Y, Chumchal MM, Saenz D, Schalk CM. Intraspecific Variation in Mercury Contamination of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1903-1913. [PMID: 38804646 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Macrochelys temminckii (alligator snapping turtle) is an aquatic turtle endemic to the southeastern United States that was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 2021. In the present study we analyzed total mercury (THg) concentrations in skeletal muscle, tail clips, and nail tissue of 93 M. temminckii sampled from 14 waterbodies in eastern Texas (USA). Our objectives were to assess (1) the degree of correlation between internal tissue (skeletal muscle and tail clip samples) and keratin (nail samples), (2) the influence of ecological factors (turtle size and waterbody/sampling site) on THg concentrations, and (3) whether THg concentrations were high enough to pose a risk to human consumers. The mean (±SE) THg concentrations of muscle and nail were 1.16 ± 0.08 μg/g dry weight and 4.21 ± 0.24 μg/g dry weight, respectively, and THg concentrations were highly dependent on the sampling site. The THg concentrations of nails were correlated with muscle concentrations (R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001). The effect of body size on THg concentrations varied by sampling site, indicating that size is not a good predictor of Hg concentration across sites. Finally, THg concentrations in M. temminckii of eastern Texas were high enough to pose a potential risk to human health based on US Environmental Protection Agency dietary guidelines. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1903-1913. © 2024 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Rosenbaum
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Carmen G Montaña
- Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Yanli Zhang
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew M Chumchal
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel Saenz
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
| | - Christopher M Schalk
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
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2
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Díaz-Delgado E, Girolametti F, Annibaldi A, Trueman CN, Willis TJ. Mercury bioaccumulation and its relationship with trophic biomarkers in a Mediterranean elasmobranch mesopredator. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116218. [PMID: 38531207 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116218] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Human activity has led to increased concentrations of mercury (Hg) in the world's oceans. Mercury can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in animal tissues via trophic transfer, thus, becoming most pronounced in larger and older predators. Here, we measured Hg concentrations and their relationship with stable isotopes-based proxies of trophic level (δ13C and δ15N values) in multiple tissues of Mustelus spp. from the Mediterranean Sea. We found higher Hg concentrations in muscle than in liver and fin tissues. The relationship between Hg concentrations and δ15N values in muscle suggested repeated foraging for low trophic level and Hg-poor prey, and biomagnification of Hg at higher trophic levels. Seasonal variations in δ13C values could indicate shifts in primary production sources and/or in local prey availability. The HBVSe index suggested no risk to human health, however the safe meal limit recommendations are 4.5 and 2.2 portions per month for adults and children, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Díaz-Delgado
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Fano Marine Center, Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Italy.
| | - Federico Girolametti
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Anna Annibaldi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Clive N Trueman
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO143ZH, UK
| | - Trevor J Willis
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Fano Marine Center, Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Italy
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3
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Makaure J, Dube T, Stewart D, Razavi NR. Mercury Exposure in Two Fish Trophic Guilds from Protected and ASGM-Impacted Reservoirs in Zimbabwe and Possible Risks to Human Health. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 84:199-213. [PMID: 36639419 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-00977-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite a surge in mercury (Hg) pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Zimbabwe's drainage basins, little is known about Hg trophodynamics in the country's major reservoirs. We analyzed fish tissues for total mercury (THg) and stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N and δ13C) to compare patterns of biomagnification between two trophic guilds from a protected reservoir (Chivero) and an ASGM-impacted reservoir (Mazowe) and assessed consequences for human and fish health. Mean dry weight THg concentrations were significantly higher for both piscivorous and herbivorous fishes from Mazowe reservoir compared to fishes from similar feeding guilds in Chivero. Trophic magnification slopes (TMS), inferred from linear regressions between log10[THg] and δ15N, revealed significant Hg biomagnification in Mazowe (TMS = 0.28; p < 0.05) and no evidence for Hg biomagnification in Chivero (TMS = - 0.005; p > 0.05). In Mazowe's piscivorous fishes, 32% had wet weight THg concentrations that surpassed 0.2 µg/g ww, a threshold for susceptible human populations and biochemical and gene expression alterations in fish. In addition, 17% of Mazowe's piscivorous fishes surpassed the UNEP THg toxicity threshold for human consumption (0.5 µg/g ww). To reduce exposure to Hg toxicity in humans, the maximum fish consumption for piscivorous species from Mazowe reservoir should not exceed 431 g/week for both adult male and female consumers. Our findings demonstrate the importance of creating freshwater-protected areas to prevent direct Hg contamination of aquatic ecosystems and the need for health agencies to provide fish consumption advisories to vulnerable communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Makaure
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Trevor Dube
- Department of Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Donald Stewart
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - N Roxanna Razavi
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
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Masresha AE, Skipperud L, Gebremariam Z, Meland S, Salbu B. Mobile trace elements in sediments from lakes Hawassa, Koka, and Ziway in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 195:11. [PMID: 36271163 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10512-y] [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: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present work focuses on total concentrations of trace elements such as chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) and their operationally defined speciation in surface sediments from three Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes (Hawassa, Koka, and Ziway). Total concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). A six-step sequential extraction was also applied to evaluate the mobilization potential of these elements. Compared with the consensus-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) developed for freshwater ecosystems, the total Zn concentration in sediments from Lakes Hawassa and Ziway, as well as Cr, Ni, and Zn in sediments from Lake Koka, was higher than the probable effect concentration (PEC), suggesting that these elements could have a negative effect on benthic organisms. The sequential extraction results showed that Cd, Mn, and Se were to a certain extent associated with the reversible fractions (F1-F3) in sediments, and thereby more mobile than the other investigated trace elements. Predictions of mobility of trace elements using the distribution coefficients (Kd) values were also in agreement with the sequential extraction results. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analyses showed that redox-sensitive fractions (F4 and F6) and the residual fraction (F7) were the dominant factors controlling most trace element mobility. Finally, applying the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) classification system, results showed that Mn in Lake Koka could pose a high risk, while Cd and Mn in Lake Hawassa as well as Cd, Mn, and Se in Lake Ziway sediments could pose medium risk to benthic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemayehu Esayas Masresha
- Environmental Laboratory Directorate, Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI), P. O. Box 24536 Code 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Lindis Skipperud
- Environmental Chemistry Section, Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
| | - Zinabu Gebremariam
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Hawassa University (HU), P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Sondre Meland
- Environmental Chemistry Section, Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Brit Salbu
- Environmental Chemistry Section, Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
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Melake BA, Bervoets L, Nkuba B, Groffen T. Distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water, sediment, and fish tissue, and the potential human health risks due to fish consumption in Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112033. [PMID: 34509478 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Due to their global distribution, persistence, bioaccumulative potential and toxicity, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are considered as hazardous chemicals. Although many studies on PFASs pollution in aquatic environments have been done in the Northern hemisphere, less is known on PFASs pollution in African aquatic ecosystems and the risks they pose to humans through consumption of contaminated biota. The objective of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of PFASs in water, sediment, and fish tissue in Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia, and to investigate possible human health risks due to fish consumption. Among the PFASs detected in water and sediment, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the most abundant with mean concentrations of 6.93 ng/L and 0.23 ng/g dw respectively. Long-chained PFASs dominated the PFAS accumulation profiles in fish tissues, with higher concentrations measured in liver compared to muscle tissue. The detected concentrations of PFASs were, however, often similar to those reported in other African aquatic ecosystems. This study showed no potential health risk due to consumption of contaminated fish based on mean concentrations and fish consumption. However, it is expected that peoples who consume more fish (fishermen and local peoples living close to Lake Hawassa) may suffer health risks due to PFASs contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bealemlay Abebe Melake
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, P.O.BOX 235, Harar, Ethiopia; Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Bossissi Nkuba
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Center of Expertise on Mining Governance (CEGEMI), Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Congo.
| | - Thimo Groffen
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Masresha AE, Skipperud L, Rosseland BO, G M Z, Meland S, Salbu B. Bioaccumulation of trace elements in liver and kidney of fish species from three freshwater lakes in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:329. [PMID: 33959823 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09083-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the present work was to obtain scientific information on the ecological health of three freshwater lakes (Awassa, Koka, and Ziway) situated in the Ethiopian Rift Valley by investigating possible trace element contamination accumulated in fish. Accordingly, fish liver and kidney samples were collected from three commercially important fish species (Barbus intermedius, Clarias gariepinus, and Oreochromis niloticus) in the lakes to determine the concentrations of chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), using ICP-MS. Trace element concentrations were generally higher in O. niloticus compared with concentrations in B. intermedius and C. gariepinus. Compared to background values of most freshwater fish species, higher liver concentrations of Cu in C. gariepinus and O. niloticus, Mn in O. niloticus, Co in all except B. intermedius, and Zn in C. gariepinus from Lakes Ziway and Awassa were found. Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb were enriched in kidney, while Mn, Cu, Zn, As, and Se seems retained in the liver tissues. Assessment of transfer factors indicated that bioaccumulation from water and diet occurred, while uptake from sediments was low. Furthermore, the transfer factor values were generally higher for essential elements compared to the non-essential elements. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that the differences between the trace element levels were generally not significant among the lakes (p = 0.672), while significant differences were found between the fish species (p = 0.042), and between accumulation in kidney and liver (p = 0.002).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemayehu Esayas Masresha
- Environmental Laboratory Directorate Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI), P. O. Box 24536 Code 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Lindis Skipperud
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, CERAD Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
| | - Bjørn Olav Rosseland
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, CERAD Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
| | - Zinabu G M
- Department of Biology, Hawassa University (HU), P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Sondre Meland
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, CERAD Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Brit Salbu
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, CERAD Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway
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Deribe E. Investigating the Spatial Trends in the Level of Organic Contaminants in the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes Using Semipermeable Membrane Devices. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 101:20-25. [PMID: 29785646 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-018-2358-9] [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: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Organic pollutants in the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes are the major factors that contribute to severe environmental problem. SPMDs were deployed for the analysis of selected organic pollutants for 1 month at 2 sites in Lakes Hawassa, Ziway and Koka, Ethiopia. From SPMDs placed in the three lakes, the predominant OCPs were DDT which comprise 67% and followed by endosulfan 23% of the total organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) retrieved. The highest level of OCPs, in general, was found in the SPMDs deployed in Lake Ziway with the mean concentration of 308.5 ng/SPMD. However, the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were the highest in the SPMDs deployed in Lake Hawassa with mean concentration of 50.2 ng/SPMD. Spatial variation on the accumulation of OCPs and PCBs among the lakes depends on the shoreline activities, distance of the lakes from point and non-point sources, and the biofouling factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Deribe
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
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Kassegne AB, Okonkwo JO, Esho TB, Mekonnen KN, Malehase T, Asfaw SL. Distribution of total mercury in surface sediments and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Akaki River catchment and Aba Samuel Reservoir, downstream to the mega-city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. EMERGING CONTAMINANTS 2018; 4:32-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
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9
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Kassegne AB, Okonkwo JO, Esho TB, Mekonnen KN, Malehase T, Asfaw SL. Distribution of total mercury in surface sediments and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Akaki River catchment and Aba Samuel Reservoir, downstream to the mega-city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. EMERGING CONTAMINANTS 2018; 4:32-39. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
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Singh R, Hussain MA, Kumar J, Kumar M, Kumari U, Mazumder S. Chronic fluoride exposure exacerbates headkidney pathology and causes immune commotion in Clarias gariepinus. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2017; 192:30-39. [PMID: 28917943 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.09.006] [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: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The current study was aimed to understand the effects of chronic fluoride exposure on fish immune system. African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were exposed to 73.45mg/L of fluoride corresponding to 1/10 96h LC50 for 30 d and the effects on general fish health and several immune parameters were studied. Chronic fluoride exposure led to significant alteration in serum biochemical parameters including alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen levels revealing the detrimental effect of fluoride on general fish health. Upregulation in cytochrome P450 1A expression, both at mRNA and protein level suggested that fluoride activates the detoxification machinery in headkidney (HK) of C. gariepinus. Histopathological analysis of HK from exposed fish further revealed fluoride-induced hypertrophy, increase in melano-macrophage centers (MMCs) and the development of cell-depleted regions. Fluoride reduced headkidney somatic index (HKSI) and the phagocytic potential of headkidney macrophages (HKM). It induced caspase-3-dependent headkidney leukocyte (HKL) apoptosis, elevated superoxide generation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α besides suppressed T-cell proliferation in the exposed fish. We surmise the elevation in superoxide levels coupled with increased TNF-α production to be plausible causes of fluoride-induced HKL apoptosis. It is concluded that chronic fluoride exposure induces structure-function alterations in HK, the primary lymphoid organ in fish leading to impairment in immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Singh
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Md Arafat Hussain
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Jai Kumar
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Manmohan Kumar
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Usha Kumari
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Shibnath Mazumder
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India.
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Dharampal PS, Findlay RH. Mercury levels in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from regulated and unregulated rivers. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 170:134-140. [PMID: 27984776 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.11.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Within areas of comparable atmospheric mercury deposition rates methylmercury burden in largemouth bass populations vary significantly between regulated and unregulated rivers. To investigate if trophic dynamics strongly influenced pollutant body load, we sampled largemouth bass from two adjacent rivers, one regulated and one unregulated, and applied a suite of biochemical and stable isotope assays to compare their trophic dynamics. Total mercury burden in the bass from the unregulated Sipsey River (Elrod, AL, USA) and the regulated Black Warrior River (Demopolis, AL, USA) averaged 0.87 mg kg-1 and 0.19 mg kg-1 wet weight, respectively. For both populations, age, weight, and length were positively correlated with muscle mercury concentration. Compound specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids showed the trophic position of both populations was just under four. Quantitative and isotopic analysis of neutral lipid fatty acid of Sipsey River bass indicated a greater reliance upon the detrital component of the food web compared to Demopolis Reservoir bass which fed within the autochthonous, pelagic component of the food web. Since the close proximity of the rivers makes differences in atmospheric deposition unlikely and both populations had similar trophic position, our findings indicate that food web dynamics should be included among the factors that can strongly influence mercury concentration in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prarthana S Dharampal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Box 870344, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States
| | - Robert H Findlay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Box 870344, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States.
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Ahrens L, Gashaw H, Sjöholm M, Gebrehiwot SG, Getahun A, Derbe E, Bishop K, Åkerblom S. Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) in water, sediment and fish muscle tissue from Lake Tana, Ethiopia and implications for human exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2016; 165:352-357. [PMID: 27665295 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Lake Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake and there are plans to increase the harvest of fish from the lake. The objective of this study was to assess the levels of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in different compartments of the lake (water, sediment, and fish muscle tissue), and its implications for human exposure. The results showed higher PFAS concentrations in piscivorous fish species (Labeobarbus megastoma and Labeobarbus gorguari) than non-piscivorous species (Labeobarbus intermedius, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus) and also spatial distribution similarities. The ∑PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.073 to 5.6 ng L-1 (on average, 2.9 ng L-1) in surface water, 0.22-0.55 ng g-1 dry weight (dw) (on average, 0.30 ng g-1 dw) in surface sediment, and non-detected to 5.8 ng g-1 wet weight (ww) (on average, 1.2 ng g-1 ww) in all fish species. The relative risk (RR) indicates that the consumption of fish contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) will likely not cause any harmful effects for the Ethiopian fish eating population. However, mixture toxicity of the sum of PFASs, individual fish consumption patterns and increasing fish consumption are important factors to consider in future risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Habiba Gashaw
- Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Margareta Sjöholm
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Abebe Getahun
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Department of Biology, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Ermias Derbe
- Department of Biology, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Staffan Åkerblom
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Ouédraogo O, Chételat J, Amyot M. Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of mercury and selenium in african sub-tropical fluvial reservoirs food webs (Burkina Faso). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123048. [PMID: 25875292 PMCID: PMC4395242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) were investigated in sub-tropical freshwater food webs from Burkina Faso, West Africa, a region where very few ecosystem studies on contaminants have been performed. During the 2010 rainy season, samples of water, sediment, fish, zooplankton, and mollusks were collected from three water reservoirs and analysed for total Hg (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and total Se (TSe). Ratios of δ13C and δ15N were measured to determine food web structures and patterns of contaminant accumulation and transfer to fish. Food chain lengths (FCLs) were calculated using mean δ15N of all primary consumer taxa collected as the site-specific baseline. We report relatively low concentrations of THg and TSe in most fish. We also found in all studied reservoirs short food chain lengths, ranging from 3.3 to 3.7, with most fish relying on a mixture of pelagic and littoral sources for their diet. Mercury was biomagnified in fish food webs with an enrichment factor ranging from 2.9 to 6.5 for THg and from 2.9 to 6.6 for MeHg. However, there was no evidence of selenium biomagnification in these food webs. An inverse relationship was observed between adjusted δ15N and log-transformed Se:Hg ratios, indicating that Se has a lesser protective effect in top predators, which are also the most contaminated animals with respect to MeHg. Trophic position, carbon source, and fish total length were the factors best explaining Hg concentration in fish. In a broader comparison of our study sites with literature data for other African lakes, the THg biomagnification rate was positively correlated with FCL. We conclude that these reservoir systems from tropical Western Africa have low Hg biomagnification associated with short food chains. This finding may partly explain low concentrations of Hg commonly reported in fish from this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ousséni Ouédraogo
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - John Chételat
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Deribe E, Rosseland BO, Borgstrøm R, Salbu B, Gebremariam Z, Dadebo E, Skipperud L, Eklo OM. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish from Lake Awassa in the Ethiopian Rift Valley: human health risks. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2014; 93:238-244. [PMID: 24902651 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-014-1314-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Dietary intake of fish containing organic contaminants poses a potential threat to human health. In the present work, an assessment has been carried out to look at the human health risk associated with consumption of fish contaminated with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs) in certain fish species collected from Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia. The health risk assessment was made by comparing the concentrations of OCPs and PCBs in fish muscle tissues with reference doses given in the USEPA guidelines. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), endosulfans, PCBs and chloridanes were identified in fish species collected from Lake Hawassa. The most predominant pesticides were DDTs, with mean concentrations of ΣDDT ranging from 19 to 56 ng g(-1) wet weights. The highest concentrations of DDTs were found in Barbus intermedius, representing the highest trophic level. PCBs, DDT and endosulfan concentrations found in B. intermedius exceeded the reference dose for children between the ages of 0-1 year (with hazard index of above 1.0). Therefore, consumption of fish from a high trophic level (e.g. B. intermedius) from Lake Hawassa may pose a special health risk to children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Deribe
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway,
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Dadebo E, Aemro D, Tekle-Giorgis Y. Food and feeding habits of the African catfishClarias gariepinus(Burchell, 1822) (Pisces: Clariidae) in Lake Koka, Ethiopia. Afr J Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elias Dadebo
- Department of Biology; Hawassa University; P.O. Box 5 Hawassa Ethiopia
| | - Degsera Aemro
- Department of Biology; Hawassa University; P.O. Box 5 Hawassa Ethiopia
| | - Yosef Tekle-Giorgis
- Department of Animal and Range Science; Hawassa University; P.O. Box 336 Hawassa Ethiopia
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16
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Sharma CM, Basnet S, Kang S, Rosseland BO, Zhang Q, Pan K, Borgstrøm R, Li Q, Wang WX, Huang J, Teien HC, Sharma S. Mercury concentrations in commercial fish species of Lake Phewa, Nepal. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2013; 91:272-277. [PMID: 23839154 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-013-1055-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) concentrations in four commercial fish species (Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, Spiny Eel Mastacembelus armatus, African catfish Clarias gariepinus, and Sahar Tor putitora), were investigated in Lake Phewa, Nepal. Mean values of total mercury (THg mg kg(-1), ww) in these fishes were 0.02, 0.07, 0.05, and 0.12 respectively. Methylmercury contributed 82 % of THg. The lowest value was detected in O. niloticus, an exclusive plant feeder. The biomagnification rate of Hg through the fish community was 0.041 per δ(15)N (‰). The present investigation produced an important baseline data of Hg pollution in the fish community in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhatra Mani Sharma
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China.
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17
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Strømman G, Rosseland BO, Skipperud L, Burkitbaev LM, Uralbekov B, Heier LS, Salbu B. Uranium activity ratio in water and fish from pit lakes in Kurday, Kazakhstan and Taboshar, Tajikistan. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 123:71-81. [PMID: 22739115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2011] [Revised: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Kurday in Kazhakstan and Taboshar in Tajikistan were U mining sites operated during the 1950s and 1960s as part of the USSR nuclear weapon program. Today, they represent sources of potential U contamination of the environment. Within both mining sites, open pits from which U ore was extracted have been filled with water due to ground water inflow and precipitation. These artificial pit lakes contain fish consumed occasionally by the local people, and wild and domestic animals are using the water for drinking purposes. To assess the potential impact from U in these pit lakes, field work was performed in 2006 in Kurday and 2006 and 2008 in Taboshar. Results show that the U concentration in the lake waters were relatively high, about 1 mg/L in Kurday Pit Lake and about 3 mg/L in Taboshar Pit Lake. The influence of U-bearing materials on the lakes and downstream waters were investigated by measuring the U concentration and the (234)U/(238)U activity ratios. In both Kurday and Taboshar, the ratios increased distinctively from about 1 at the pit lakes to >1.5 far downstream the lakes. The concentrations of (238)U in gill, liver, muscle and bones in fish from the pit lakes were much higher than in the reference fish. Peak concentration of U was seen in bones (13 mg/kg w.w.), kidney (9.1 mg/kg w.w.) and gills (8.9 mg/kg w.w.) from Cyprinus auratus caught in the Taboshar Pit Lake. Bioconcentration factors (BCF) calculated for organs from fish caught in the Taboshar Pit Lake, with the same tendency seen in the Kurday Pit Lake, showed that U accumulates most in bone (BCF = 4.8 L/kg w.w.), gills (BCF = 3.6 L/kg w.w.), kidney (BCF = 3.6 L/kg w.w.), and liver (BCF = 2.5 L/kg w.w.), while least was accumulated in the muscle (BCF = 0.12 L/kg w.w.).
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Affiliation(s)
- G Strømman
- Isotope Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway.
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Deribe E, Rosseland BO, Borgstrøm R, Salbu B, Gebremariam Z, Dadebo E, Skipperud L, Eklo OM. Biomagnification of DDT and its metabolites in four fish species of a tropical lake. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2013; 95:10-18. [PMID: 23790590 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The concentrations and biomagnifications of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites were examined in four fish species (Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis niloticus, Tilapia zillii, and Carassius auratus) from Lake Ziway, Rift Valley, Ethiopia. Paired stomach content analysis, and stable isotope ratio of nitrogen (δ(15)N, ‰) and carbon (δ(13)C, ‰) were used to study the trophic position of the fish species in the lake. 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDT and 4,4'-DDD were the main DDTs identified in the fish samples, with 4,4'-DDE as the most predominant metabolite, with mean concentration ranging from 1.4 to 17.8 ng g(-1) wet weight (ww). The concentrations of DDTs found in fish from Lake Ziway were, in general lower than those found in most studies carried out in other African Lakes. However, the presence of DDT in all tissue samples collected from all fish species in the lake indicates the magnitude of the incidence. Moreover, the observed mean 4,4'-DDE to 4,4'-DDT ratio below 1 in C. auratus from Lake Ziway may suggest a recent exposure of these species to DDT, indicating that a contamination source is still present. 4,4'-DDE was found to biomagnify in the fish species of the lake, and increases with trophic level, however, the biomagnification rate was generally lower than what has been reported from other areas. Significantly higher concentrations of 4,4'-DDE were found in the top consumer fish in Lake Ziway, C. gariepinus than in O. niloticus (t=2.6, P<0.01), T. zillii (t=2.5, P<0.02) and C. auratus (t=2.2, P<0.03).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Deribe
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Ås, Norway.
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19
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Yohannes YB, Ikenaka Y, Nakayama SMM, Saengtienchai A, Watanabe K, Ishizuka M. Organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in fish from Lake Awassa, Ethiopia: Insights from stable isotope analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 91:857-863. [PMID: 23422170 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2012] [Revised: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/12/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The levels and bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and heavy metals were studied in muscle and liver of three fish species, with two trophic levels, from Lake Awassa, Ethiopia. DDTs were the predominant organic pollutant in all species with a maximum level of 73.28 ng g(-1) wet weight (ww). p,p'-DDE was the predominate congener and showed a significant (p<0.001) relationship with δ(15)N, which indicates that DDTs could biomagnified in the food web of the lake. Generally, high levels of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) were found in liver samples as compared to muscles. The levels of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb in liver samples showed negative correlation with δ(15)N. They were found markedly higher in the lower trophic level fish species (p<0.05) that indicates biodilution whereas; Zn level showed positive correlation with δ(15)N.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yared Beyene Yohannes
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
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20
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Dsikowitzky L, Mengesha M, Dadebo E, de Carvalho CEV, Sindern S. Assessment of heavy metals in water samples and tissues of edible fish species from Awassa and Koka Rift Valley Lakes, Ethiopia. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2013; 185:3117-3131. [PMID: 22821322 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-012-2777-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 07/05/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes host populations of edible fish species including Oreochromis niloticus, Labeobarbus intermedius and Clarias gariepinus, which are harvested also in other tropical countries. We investigated the occurrence of six heavy metals in tissues of these fish species as well as in the waters of Lake Koka and Lake Awassa. Both lakes are affected by industrial effluents in their catchments, making them ideal study sites. Mercury concentrations were very low in the water samples, but concentrations in the fish samples were relatively high, suggesting a particularly high bioaccumulation tendency as compared with the other investigated metals. Mercury was preferentially accumulated in the fish liver or muscle. It was the only metal with species-specific accumulation with highest levels found in the predatory species L. intermedius. Lower mercury concentrations in O. niloticus could be attributed to the lower trophic level, whereas mercury values in the predatory C. gariepinus were unexpectedly low. This probably relates to the high growth rate of this species resulting in biodilution of mercury. Accumulation of lead, selenium, chromium, arsenic and cadmium did not differ between species, indicating that these elements are not biomagnified in the food chain. Values of cadmium, selenium and arsenic were highest in fish livers, while lead and chromium levels were highest in the gills, which could be related to the uptake pathway. A significant impact of the industrial discharges on the occurrence of metals in the lakes could not be detected, and the respective concentrations in fish do not pose a public health hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Dsikowitzky
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, ZMT, Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
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21
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Mekonnen KN, Ambushe AA, Chandravanshi BS, Abshiro MR, McCrindle RI. Potentially toxic elements in some fresh water bodies in Ethiopia. TOXICOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 2012; 94:1980-1994. [DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2012.744024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
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22
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Mekonnen KN, Ambushe AA, Chandravanshi BS, Abshiro MR, McCrindle RI, Panichev N. Distribution of mercury in the sediments of some freshwater bodies in Ethiopia. TOXICOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 2012; 94:1678-1687. [DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2012.728602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
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23
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Jardine TD, Halliday IA, Howley C, Sinnamon V, Bunn SE. Large scale surveys suggest limited mercury availability in tropical north Queensland (Australia). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 416:385-393. [PMID: 22200373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Revised: 10/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the threat of mercury (Hg) to consumers in food webs of Australia's wet-dry tropics. This is despite high concentrations in similar biomes elsewhere and a recent history of gold mining that could lead to a high degree of exposure for biota. We analysed Hg in water, sediments, invertebrates and fishes in rivers and estuaries of north Queensland, Australia to determine its availability and biomagnification in food webs. Concentrations in water and sediments were low relative to other regions of Hg concern, with only four of 138 water samples and five of 60 sediment samples above detection limits of 0.1μgL(-1) and 0.1μgg(-1), respectively. Concentrations of Hg in fishes and invertebrates from riverine and wetland food webs were well below international consumption guidelines, including those in piscivorous fishes, likely due to low baseline concentrations and limited rates of biomagnification (average slope of log Hg vs. δ(15)N=0.08). A large fish species of recreational, commercial, and cultural importance (the barramundi, Lates calcarifer), had low concentrations that were below consumption guidelines. Observed variation in Hg concentrations in this species was primarily explained by age and foraging location (floodplain vs. coastal), with floodplain feeders having higher Hg concentrations than those foraging at sea. These analyses suggest that there is a limited threat of Hg exposure for fish-eating consumers in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Jardine
- Australian Rivers Institute and Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia.
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24
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Deribe E, Rosseland BO, Borgstrøm R, Salbu B, Gebremariam Z, Dadebo E, Norli HR, Eklo OM. Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in fish species from Lake Koka, Ethiopia: The influence of lipid content and trophic position. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2011; 410-411:136-145. [PMID: 21978619 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2011] [Revised: 08/26/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The concentrations and bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in four fish species from Lake Koka, Ethiopia, representing 2-3 levels in the food chain of the lake. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), endosulfans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorpyrifos were identified, with DDTs as the most predominant pesticide, with concentration ranging from 0.05 to 72.53ngg(-1) wet weight (ww). All fish tissue samples collected from different species of the lake contained residues of DDTs. The maximum level of DDTs was found in the fattiest, African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) sampled from the lake, with a mean concentration of 15.15ngg(-1)ww. The significant (P<0.05) relationship between concentrations of DDTs and δ(15)N indicates that DDTs biomagnified in the food web of the lake. The 4,4'-DDE to 4,4'-DDT ratio in Oreochromis niloticus (0.6) and Cyprinus carpio (0.5) were below 1, indicating ongoing use of DDTs in the study area and recent exposure of these fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Deribe
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway.
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Tadiso TM, Borgstrøm R, Rosseland BO. Mercury concentrations are low in commercial fish species of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia, but stable isotope data indicated biomagnification. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2011; 74:953-959. [PMID: 21296421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ(15)N) and carbon (δ(13)C), complemented by stomach content data, were used to assess the food web structure and trophic transfer of mercury (Hg) in four commercial fish species of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), catfish (Clarias gariepinus), Tilapia zillii, and golden carp (Carassius auratus). Total mercury (THg in mg kg(-1), ww) concentrations were low, with mean values of 0.033, 0.034, 0.025, and 0.011, in C. gariepinus, T. zillii, C. auratus, and O. niloticus, respectively. The relationships between mercury concentrations against total length (TL) and total weight (TW) were positive and significant in T. zillii, C. auratus, and C. gariepinus (P<0.01), but not in O. niloticus, which even showed a decreasing tendency with increase in TL and TW. Regression of log THg vs. δ(15)N among all fish species showed a significant correlation, indicating that mercury is biomagnifying along the food web of Lake Ziway. Isotope ratios indicated that C. gariepinus occupied the highest trophic level of the food web of Lake Ziway; but contained similar THg concentrations as T. zillii, which is located at a lower trophic level, probably due to a faster growth rate of C. gariepinus, and thus an example of biodilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariku Markos Tadiso
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
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26
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Black FJ, Bokhutlo T, Somoxa A, Maethamako M, Modisaemang O, Kemosedile T, Cobb-Adams C, Mosepele K, Chimbari M. The tropical African mercury anomaly: lower than expected mercury concentrations in fish and human hair. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2011; 409:1967-75. [PMID: 21342703 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2010] [Revised: 11/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2010] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a neurotoxin and global pollutant, and wetlands and newly flooded areas are known to be sites of enhanced production of monomethylmercury, the form of mercury that is readily biomagnified in aquatic food chains to potentially toxic levels. The Okavango Delta in Botswana, Southern Africa, is the largest inland delta in the world and a wetland ecosystem that experiences dramatic annual flooding of large tracts of seasonal floodplains. The Delta was, therefore, expected to be home to high mercury levels in fish and to be an area where local subsistence fishing communities would be at substantial risk of mercury toxicity from fish consumption. Total mercury concentrations measured in 27 species of fish from the Okavango Delta averaged (mean±s.d., wet weight) 19±19ng g(-1) in non-piscivorous fish, and 59±53ng g(-1) in piscivorous fish. These mercury concentrations are similar to those reported for fish from lakes in other areas of tropical Africa, demonstrating that not all wetlands are sites of elevated mercury concentrations in biota. Even more intriguing is that concentrations of mercury in fish from across tropical Africa are systematically and substantially lower than those typically reported for fish from freshwater ecosystems elsewhere globally. The reasons for this apparent "African mercury anomaly" are unclear, but this finding poses a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of mercury's biogeochemical cycling in the environment. Mercury concentrations measured in human hair collected in subsistence fishing communities in the Okavango Delta were similarly low (0.21±0.22μg g(-1) dry weight) despite high levels of fish consumption, and reflect the low mercury concentrations in the fish here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank J Black
- Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre, University of Botswana, Private Bag 285, Maun, Botswana.
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Pereira AA, van Hattum B, de Boer J, van Bodegom PM, Rezende CE, Salomons W. Trace elements and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in organisms from a tropical coastal lagoon. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2010; 59:464-77. [PMID: 20217062 PMCID: PMC2928917 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-010-9489-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2009] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) and stable isotope ratios (delta(13)C and delta(15)N) were analyzed in sediments, invertebrates, and fishes from a tropical coastal lagoon influenced by iron ore mining and processing activities to assess the differences in trace element accumulation patterns among species and to investigate relations with trophic levels of the organisms involved. Overall significant negative relations between trophic level (given by (15)N) and trace element concentrations in gastropods and crustaceans showed differences in internal controls of trace element accumulation among the species of different trophic positions, leading to trace element dilution. Generally, no significant relation between delta(15)N and trace element concentrations was observed among fish species, probably due to omnivory in a number of species as well as fast growth. Trace element accumulation was observed in the fish tissues, with higher levels of most trace elements found in liver compared with muscle and gill. Levels of Fe, Mn, Al, and Hg in invertebrates, and Fe and Cu in fish livers, were comparable with levels in organisms and tissues from other contaminated areas. Trace element levels in fish muscle were below the international safety baseline standards for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Pereira
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Sharma CM, Borgstrøm R, Huitfeldt JS, Rosseland BO. Selective exploitation of large pike Esox lucius--effects on mercury concentrations in fish populations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 399:33-40. [PMID: 18485450 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2007] [Revised: 03/12/2008] [Accepted: 03/17/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The present study outlines two main trends of mercury transfer patterns through the fish community: 1) the Hg concentrations increase with increase in the trophic level, with top predators having the highest concentrations, and 2) a fast growth rate may dilute the concentrations of Hg in fish muscle tissue (growth biodilution). In 2004, an extensive reduction in number of large pike (Esox lucius L.), was initiated by selective gillnet fishing in Lake Arungen, Norway, in order to increase the pike recruitment due to an expected reduction in cannibalism. In this connection, total mercury (THg) concentrations in the fish community were studied both before (2003) and after (2005) the removal of large pike. The delta(15)N signatures and stomach content analyses indicated that pike and perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) occupied the highest trophic position, while roach (Rutilus rutilus (L.)) was at the lower level, and rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus L.) at the lowest. The piscivores, pike and perch, had the highest concentrations of THg. The biomagnification rate of THg through the food web in the fish community was 0.163 (per thousand delta(15)N), with the highest uptake rate (0.232) in perch. A significant decrease in THg concentrations was found in all fish species in 2005 compared to 2003. Removal of the top predators in an Hg contaminated lake might thus be an important management tool for reducing Hg levels in fish, thereby reducing health risk to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhatra Mani Sharma
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 As, Norway.
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