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Chirita L, Covaci E, Ponta M, Frentiu T. Mercury determination in various environmental, food and material complex matrices using unified operating conditions for a cold vapor generation high-resolution continuum source quartz tube atomic absorption spectrometry method. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2023; 15:6294-6301. [PMID: 37942813 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay01468a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
An analytical method with broad applicability based on cold vapor generation high-resolution continuum source quartz tube atomic absorption spectrometry was developed and evaluated for the determination of total mercury in matrices with various complexities and compositions. Sample preparation for different matrices of food, environmental samples and (bio)polymeric materials and unified operating conditions for derivatization and measurement were evaluated. The method was validated according to established requirements (Eurachem Guide 2014, EC Decisions 657/2002; 333/2007; 836/2011 and Association of Official Analytical Chemists Guide - AOAC). Analytical versatility was checked on various samples of fish fillets, mushrooms, soil, water and water sediment, sludge from a wastewater treatment unit, and (bio)polymeric materials from waste recycled from food packaging, computers and garden tools. Under optimal conditions for cold vapor generation in a batch system, namely 3% (v/v) HCl as reaction medium for 5 mL aliquot samples and a volume of 3.5 mL 0.3% (m/v) NaBH4 stabilized in 0.2% (m/v) NaOH as derivatization reagent, the detection limit for Hg in terms of peak height measurement (n = 7 days) was in the range 0.064 ± 0.004 μg L-1 in water, 0.014 ± 0.001 mg kg-1 in environmental samples and 0.009 ± 0.001 mg kg-1 in (bio)polymeric materials. Overall recovery of Hg by analysis of certified reference materials was 102 ± 20% (k = 2) in food, soil, wastewater and water sediment, and polyethylene. Precision for the measurement of various real samples ranged between 4.2 and 15.0%. A performance study highlighted that the method was sensitive, free of non-spectral interference coming from the multielemental matrix and that it complied with the requirements for Hg determination set in EC Decisions and AOAC Guidelines at least for the more common matrices analyzed for social impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Chirita
- Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Babes-Bolyai University, Research Center for Advanced Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Eniko Covaci
- Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Babes-Bolyai University, Research Center for Advanced Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Michaela Ponta
- Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Babes-Bolyai University, Research Center for Advanced Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tiberiu Frentiu
- Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Babes-Bolyai University, Research Center for Advanced Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Arany Janos 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Rutkowska M, Falandysz J, Saba M, Szefer P, Misztal-Szkudlińska M, Konieczka P. A method for the analysis of methylmercury and total Hg in fungal matrices. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:5261-5272. [PMID: 35779096 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12043-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to develop an efficient method for the determination of monomethyl-mercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg) content in materials such as fungal sporocarps and sclerotia. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) with the assigned values of MeHg and THg as well as the control materials (dried mushrooms) with known content of THg were evaluated for method validation. Recovery of MeHg from reference materials was at the following levels: from tuna fish at 87.0 ± 2.3% (THg at 101.9 ± 1.2%), from fish protein at 99.4 ± 1.3% (THg at 92.70 ± 0.41%), and from dogfish liver at 96.45 ± 0.73%. Recovery of THg from the fungal control material CS-M-5 was at 104.01 ± 0.60% (contribution of MeHg in THg content was at 6.2%), from CS-M-4 at 101.1 ± 2.0% (contribution at 3.2%), from CS-M-3 at 100.55 ± 0.67% (contribution at 0.6%), and from CS-M-2 at 101.5 ± 2.7% (contribution at 3.7%). The content of MeHg in randomly selected wild fungi and their morphological parts was in the range from 0.006 to 0.173 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw). In the case of THg, the concentration values were in the range from 0.0108 to 10.27 mg kg-1 dw. The MeHg content in the control materials with the assigned THg values was determined. Since the control materials play an important role in all elements of the quality assurance system of measurement results, they can be used to analyse MeHg as the first control material for fungi. KEY POINTS: • An extraction procedure for MeHg analysis in fungi was developed and optimized. • Recovery of MeHg from the certified reference non-fungal materials was > 87%. • Fungal control materials with assigned THg concentration can serve also for MeHg analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Rutkowska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jerzy Falandysz
- Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, 1 Muszyńskiego Street, 90-151, Lódź, Poland.
| | - Martyna Saba
- Główny Inspektorat Jakości Handlowej Artykułów Rolno-Spożywczych, Laboratorium Specjalistyczne w Gdyni, Al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 8/12, Gdynia, 81-378, Poland
| | - Piotr Szefer
- Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Konieczka
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
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ZHOU C, WANG YJ, ZHU HQ, HUANG KK, LI YG. Quantitative analysis of trace metal ions concentration in purified liquid of zinc smelting using UV-vis spectrometry and EVC-ILWPLS method. CHINESE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjac.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Interference-free, green microanalytical method for total mercury and methylmercury determination in biological and environmental samples using small-sized electrothermal vaporization capacitively coupled plasma microtorch optical emission spectrometry. Talanta 2020; 217:121067. [PMID: 32498880 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
An analytical method for the quantification of total Hg and CH3Hg+ in biological tissues (fish, mushroom) and water sediment was developed based on small-sized electrothermal vaporization capacitively coupled plasma microtorch optical emission spectrometry using a low-resolution microspectrometer as detector. Sample preparation was carried out according to the procedure recommended by JRC Technical Report of European Commission for the determination of CH3Hg+ in seafood and adapted by us for lower consumption of reagents. Amounts of 0.1 - 0.5 g sample were subjected to extraction in 5 ml of 47% HBr then CH3Hg+ was extracted in 2 × 1 ml toluene and back-extracted in 2 ml aqueous solution of 1% l-cysteine. Total Hg/CH3Hg+ were quantified in 10 μl of acidic extract/l-cysteine solution after electrothermal vaporization and measurement of 253.652 nm Hg signal in the episodic emission spectra. Under the optimal working conditions of system (70 °C sample drying, 1300 °C sample vaporization, 10 W plasma power and 150 ml min-1 Ar flow) the limits of detection were 7.0 μg kg-1 total Hg and 3.5 μg kg-1 CH3Hg+. Comparison of slopes in external calibration and standard addition procedure revealed the lack of non-spectral interferences of multimineral matrix, so that the calibration against Hg2+ standards was adopted. Pooled recovery of total mercury/methylmercury was 101 ± 7%/100 ± 7%, while precision assessed from measurements of real samples was in the range 1.6-9.6%/2.7-12.8%. The proposed method validated according to Eurachem Guide 2014 is selective and complies with demands in European legislation (Decisions 657/2002; 333/2007; 836/2011) and Association of Official Analytical Chemists Guide in terms of performances for food control. The method displays a high degree of greenness by circumventing cold vapor generation, use of small amounts of reagents and full-miniaturized instrumentation resulting in low analytical costs without reducing results quality. Besides, the method is simple and rapid, since it uses external calibration curves prepared from Hg2+standard solutions both for total Hg and CH3Hg+ determination.
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Rutkowska M, Bajger-Nowak G, Kowalewska D, Bzoma S, Kalisińska E, Namieśnik J, Konieczka P. Methylmercury and total mercury content in soft tissues of two bird species wintering in the Baltic Sea near Gdansk, Poland. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 219:140-147. [PMID: 30543952 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Of the various forms of Hg occurring in nature, (mono) methylmercury (MeHg) is an especially toxic form and practically all forms of Hg can be converted into MeHg as a result of natural processes. Total mercury (THg) and MeHg were determined in tissues of two piscivorous birds: razorbill Alca torda and black-throated loon Gavia arctica to provide baseline data on current mercury concentrations for liver, kidneys and pectoral muscle mercury concentrations of birds which winter on the south Baltic Sea coast. Intra and inter-specific comparisons were carried out. The study is conducted between winter and autumn and the distributions of mercury in tissues were compared with data in other studies. The following paper contains discussion of the results based on the statistical analysis and ecology aspect. The highest average Hg content was in the liver (loon ≈ 3.86 mg kg-1 dw; razorbill ≈ 1.57 mg kg-1 dw), then in the kidneys (loon ≈ 3.14 mg kg-1 dw; razorbill ≈ 1.53 mg kg-1 dw) and the lowest concentrations were in pectoral muscles (loon ≈ 1.97 mg kg-1 dw; razorbill ≈ 0.67 mg kg-1 dw).
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Rutkowska
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Gabriela Bajger-Nowak
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Diana Kowalewska
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Szymon Bzoma
- Waterbird Research Group KULING, 34/7 Świerkowa Street, 81-526 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Elżbieta Kalisińska
- Pomeranian Medical University, Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, 72 Powstancow Wielkopolskich Street, 70-411 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Jacek Namieśnik
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Konieczka
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
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Gorecki J, Okonska A. The construction and testing of the portable Hg2+ ultrasonic calibrator for the control of mercury speciation systems. Talanta 2016; 147:28-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Suvarapu LN, Baek SO. Recent Developments in the Speciation and Determination of Mercury Using Various Analytical Techniques. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL METHODS IN CHEMISTRY 2015; 2015:372459. [PMID: 26236539 PMCID: PMC4506829 DOI: 10.1155/2015/372459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This paper reviews the speciation and determination of mercury by various analytical techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry, voltammetry, inductively coupled plasma techniques, spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, high performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography. Approximately 126 research papers on the speciation and determination of mercury by various analytical techniques published in international journals since 2013 are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Narayana Suvarapu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si 712 749, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Ok Baek
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si 712 749, Republic of Korea
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Kalisinska E, Gorecki J, Lanocha N, Okonska A, Melgarejo JB, Budis H, Rzad I, Golas J. Total and methylmercury in soft tissues of white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) collected in Poland. AMBIO 2014; 43:858-70. [PMID: 24870933 PMCID: PMC4190150 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-014-0533-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in piscivorous birds, especially methylmercury (MeHg), has been drawing much attention worldwide in regard to its bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food chains. In this study on Hg in the soft tissues of white-tailed eagles (n = 22) and ospreys (n = 2) from Poland, total Hg (THg) range was 0.15-47.6 while MeHg range was 0.11-8.05 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight. In both species, median THg and MeHg concentrations were lower in the muscle and brain than in the liver and kidney. Median nephric residues were just under 3 and 5 mgTHg kg⁻¹ or 0.9 and 3.7 mgMeHg kg⁻¹ for white-tailed eagle and osprey, respectively. In Norwegian data from the 1970s and in our results, MeHg in the muscle of white-tailed eagle was ~60 % THg (%MeHg = MeHg/THg × 100), lower than in other piscivorous birds. A clear similarity in THg tissue levels was found between Polish and German populations of white-tailed eagles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Kalisinska
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich Av. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Jerzy Gorecki
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Natalia Lanocha
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich Av. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Anna Okonska
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Javier B. Melgarejo
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Halina Budis
- Department of Health Education, University of Szczecin, al. Piastow 40b bl. 6, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Izabella Rzad
- Department of Ecology and Environment Protection, University of Szczecin, Waska 13, 75-415 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Jerzy Golas
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
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Kalisinska E, Gorecki J, Okonska A, Pilarczyk B, Tomza-Marciniak A, Budis H, Lanocha N, Kosik-Bogacka DI, Kavetska KM, Macherzynski M, Golas JM. Mercury and selenium in the muscle of piscivorous common mergansers (Mergus merganser) from a selenium-deficient European country. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2014; 101:107-15. [PMID: 24507135 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Although the relationship between mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) has been studied in wild birds in areas with sufficient or excessive Se levels, little is known about this relationship in areas where the supply of Se is limited. As Hg detoxification is based on the production of biologically inactive Hg-Se complexes, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the concentrations of total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), inorganic mercury (InHg=THg-MeHg), percent MeHg of THg, Se and molar ratios (THg:Se, MeHg:Se, InHg:Se) in the breast muscle (n=16) of the piscivorous common mergansers (Mergus merganser) from a Se-deficient and moderately Hg-polluted area in Poland. Mergansers were divided into two groups differing in condition (A-very good condition; C-moderate condition). Concentrations of THg, MeHg and Se were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, modified gas chromatography atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, and spectrofluorometric methods, respectively. In all studied mergansers, mean concentrations of THg, MeHg, InHg, and Se in muscle were 2.63, 1.92, 0.46, and 0.54µgg(-1)dw, respectively. THg and MeHg concentrations in the muscle of group A mergansers were greater than in group C. The ratio of THg:Se was higher in group A than in group C (2.32 vs 1.36; p<0.01), as well as the molar ratio of MeHg:Se (A vs C: 1.98 vs 1.03; p<0.05). Comparisons between mergansers from Poland and Canada showed similar THg and percent MeHg in the muscle, but mergansers from Poland had several times lower Se levels and higher THg:Se ratios (>2.0) than the Canadian mergansers and other European and North American waterbirds. We found statistically significant positive correlations (MeHg-THg, percent MeHg/THg-MeHg, percent InHg/THg-InHg, THg:Se-THg, MeHg:Se-THg, THg:Se-MeHg, MeHg:Se-MeHg, InHg:Se-InHg, MeHg:Se-THg:Se) and some negative correlations (percent InHg/THg-MeHg, percent MeHg/THg-InHg, THg:Se-Se, MeHg:Se-Se). As THg and percent MeHg in the studied mergansers were similar to populations living in non-Se-deficient areas, it is likely that different mechanisms of muscle Hg detoxification have evolved in mergansers populations living in Se-deficient areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Kalisinska
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Jerzy Gorecki
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Okonska
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Bogumila Pilarczyk
- Department of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Doktora Judyma 10, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Tomza-Marciniak
- Department of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Doktora Judyma 10, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Halina Budis
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Natalia Lanocha
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Danuta I Kosik-Bogacka
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna M Kavetska
- Laboratory of Biology and Ecology of Parasites, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Doktora Judyma 10, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Mariusz Macherzynski
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Janusz M Golas
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
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Kalisinska E, Gorecki J, Okonska A, Pilarczyk B, Tomza-Marciniak A, Budis H, Lanocha N, Kosik-Bogacka DI, Kavetska KM, Macherzynski M, Golas J. Hepatic and nephric mercury and selenium concentrations in common mergansers, Mergus merganser, from Baltic Region, Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2014; 33:421-30. [PMID: 24174120 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2448] [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: 08/08/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The subject of the present study was the piscivorous common mergansers (Mergus merganser). The total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), selenium (Se) inorganic mercury (InHg; THg - MeHg), percentage of THg that is MeHg (%MeHg), molar ratios (THg:Se, MeHg:Se, InHg:Se), and their mutual relations in livers and kidneys were determined in ducks from an Se-deficient area in Poland. The authors verified a hypothesis that, as a result of living in an Se-deficient region, mergansers from Poland should have higher THg:Se ratios than other waterbirds with similar THg tissue levels. Although a comparison of healthy mergansers from Poland and Canada showed similar THg tissue contents, the group in the present study had a few times lower Se levels and higher THg:Se ratios (overall means >1.7 in both livers and kidneys in all studied individuals) than the Canadian group and other European and North American waterbirds. The authors found significant correlations between various relations, including MeHg-THg, InHg-THg, Se-THg, %MeHg-THg, InHg/%THg-THg, %MeHg/THg-InHg, %InHg/THg-InHg, MeHg:Se-THg:Se, InHg:Se-THg:Se, InHg:Se-MeHg:Se in liver and InHg-THg, Se-THg, Se-InHg, %MeHg-THg, %MeHg-InHg, %InHg/THg-InHg, THg:Se-THg, InHg:Se-THg, MeHg:Se-MeHg, THg:Se-InHg, InHg:Se-InHg, and InHg:Se-THg:Se in kidney. It is likely that the main factor responsible for the high value of THG:Se ratio (>1) in mergansers from Poland is Se deficiency in central and northern Europe. Therefore, this element is unlikely to participate in the detoxification of Hg in these birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Kalisinska
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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