1
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Christian LD, Burton MEH, Mohammed A, Nelson W, Shah TA, Bertide-Josiah L, Yurek HG, Evers DC. An evaluation of fish and invertebrate mercury concentrations in the Caribbean Region. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s10646-024-02754-y. [PMID: 38836941 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02754-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant of global concern but the threat of exposure is not homogenously distributed at local, regional, or global scales. The primary route of human exposure to mercury is through consumption of aquatic foods, which are culturally and economically important in the wider Caribbean Region, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We compiled more than 1600 samples of 108 unique species of fish and aquatic invertebrates collected between 2005 and 2023 from eleven countries or territories in the wider Caribbean Region. There was wide variability in total mercury concentrations with 55% of samples below the 0.23 µg/g wet weight (ww) guideline from the U.S. FDA/EPA (2022) for 2 or 3 weekly servings and 26% exceeding the 0.46 µg/g ww guideline consistent with adverse effects on human health from continual consumption, particularly for sensitive populations. Significant relationships were found between total mercury concentrations and taxonomic family, sampling country, fish length, and trophic level. The data analyzed here support the need for further sampling with concrete geospatial data to better understand patterns and mechanisms in mercury concentrations and allow for more informed decision making on the consumption of fish and invertebrates from the wider Caribbean Region as well as supporting efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of national, regional, and international mercury policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linroy D Christian
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.
| | | | - Azad Mohammed
- The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Wendy Nelson
- Institute of Marine Affairs, Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | - Laël Bertide-Josiah
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
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2
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An H, Li X, Huang Y, Wang W, Wu Y, Liu L, Ling W, Li W, Zhao H, Lu D, Liu Q, Jiang G. A new ChatGPT-empowered, easy-to-use machine learning paradigm for environmental science. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 2024; 3:131-136. [PMID: 38638173 PMCID: PMC11021822 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The quantity and complexity of environmental data show exponential growth in recent years. High-quality big data analysis is critical for performing a sophisticated characterization of the complex network of environmental pollution. Machine learning (ML) has been employed as a powerful tool for decoupling the complexities of environmental big data based on its remarkable fitting ability. Yet, due to the knowledge gap across different subjects, ML concepts and algorithms have not been well-popularized among researchers in environmental sustainability. In this context, we introduce a new research paradigm-"ChatGPT + ML + Environment", providing an unprecedented chance for environmental researchers to reduce the difficulty of using ML models. For instance, each step involved in applying ML models to environmental sustainability, including data preparation, model selection and construction, model training and evaluation, and hyper-parameter optimization, can be easily performed with guidance from ChatGPT. We also discuss the challenges and limitations of using this research paradigm in the field of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of "secondary training" for future application of "ChatGPT + ML + Environment".
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyuan An
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yuming Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Weichao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yuehan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Weibo Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Wei Li
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Hanzhu Zhao
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Dawei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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3
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Ackerman JT, Peterson SH, Herzog MP, Yee JL. Methylmercury Effects on Birds: A Review, Meta-Analysis, and Development of Toxicity Reference Values for Injury Assessment Based on Tissue Residues and Diet. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1195-1241. [PMID: 38682592 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5858] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Birds are used as bioindicators of environmental mercury (Hg) contamination, and toxicity reference values are needed for injury assessments. We conducted a comprehensive review, summarized data from 168 studies, performed a series of Bayesian hierarchical meta-analyses, and developed new toxicity reference values for the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) on birds using a benchmark dose analysis framework. Lethal and sublethal effects of MeHg on birds were categorized into nine biologically relevant endpoint categories and three age classes. Effective Hg concentrations where there was a 10% reduction (EC10) in the production of juvenile offspring (0.55 µg/g wet wt adult blood-equivalent Hg concentrations, 80% credible interval: [0.33, 0.85]), histology endpoints (0.49 [0.15, 0.96] and 0.61 [0.09, 2.48]), and biochemical markers (0.77 [<0.25, 2.12] and 0.57 [0.35, 0.92]) were substantially lower than those for survival (2.97 [2.10, 4.73] and 5.24 [3.30, 9.55]) and behavior (6.23 [1.84, >13.42] and 3.11 [2.10, 4.64]) of juveniles and adults, respectively. Within the egg age class, survival was the most sensitive endpoint (EC10 = 2.02 µg/g wet wt adult blood-equivalent Hg concentrations [1.39, 2.94] or 1.17 µg/g fresh wet wt egg-equivalent Hg concentrations [0.80, 1.70]). Body morphology was not particularly sensitive to Hg. We developed toxicity reference values using a combined survival and reproduction endpoints category for juveniles, because juveniles were more sensitive to Hg toxicity than eggs or adults. Adult blood-equivalent Hg concentrations (µg/g wet wt) and egg-equivalent Hg concentrations (µg/g fresh wet wt) caused low injury to birds (EC1) at 0.09 [0.04, 0.17] and 0.04 [0.01, 0.08], moderate injury (EC5) at 0.6 [0.37, 0.84] and 0.3 [0.17, 0.44], high injury (EC10) at 1.3 [0.94, 1.89] and 0.7 [0.49, 1.02], and severe injury (EC20) at 3.2 [2.24, 4.78] and 1.8 [1.28, 2.79], respectively. Maternal dietary Hg (µg/g dry wt) caused low injury to juveniles at 0.16 [0.05, 0.38], moderate injury at 0.6 [0.29, 1.03], high injury at 1.1 [0.63, 1.87], and severe injury at 2.4 [1.42, 4.13]. We found few substantial differences in Hg toxicity among avian taxonomic orders, including for controlled laboratory studies that injected Hg into eggs. Our results can be used to quantify injury to birds caused by Hg pollution. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1195-1241. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Ackerman
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California, USA
| | - Sarah H Peterson
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California, USA
| | - Mark P Herzog
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California, USA
| | - Julie L Yee
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Cruz Field Station, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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4
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Mills WF, Bustamante P, Ramírez F, Forero MG, Phillips RA. Mercury Concentrations in Feathers of Albatrosses and Large Petrels at South Georgia: Contemporary Patterns and Comparisons with Past Decades. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 86:363-374. [PMID: 38762667 PMCID: PMC11142957 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-024-01067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is an environmental contaminant that can negatively impact the health of humans and wildlife. Albatrosses and large petrels show some of the highest levels of Hg contamination among birds, with potential repercussions for reproduction and survival. Here, body feather total Hg (THg) concentrations were determined in breeding adults of five species of albatrosses and large petrels in the foraging guild at South Georgia during the mid-2010s. We tested the effects of species, sex and trophic ecology (inferred from stable isotopes) on THg concentrations and compared our results with published values from past decades. Feather THg concentrations differed significantly among species (range: 1.9-49.6 µg g-1 dw), and were highest in wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans, intermediate in black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and northern giant petrels Macronectes halli, and lowest in southern giant petrels M. giganteus and white-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis. Females were more contaminated than males in all species, potentially due to differences in distributions and diet composition. Across species, THg concentrations were not correlated with feather δ13C or δ15N values, implying that species effects (e.g., breeding and moulting frequencies) may be more important than trophic effects in explaining feather THg concentrations in this foraging guild. Within species, the only significant correlation was between THg and δ13C in wandering albatrosses, which could reflect higher Hg exposure in subtropical waters. Comparisons with THg concentrations from past studies, which reflect contamination from 10 to > 60 years ago, revealed considerable annual variation and some evidence for increases over time for wandering and black-browed albatrosses since before 1950 and from the late 1980s, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Mills
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Francisco Ramírez
- Departament de Recursos Marins Renovables, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuela G Forero
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio, 26, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
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5
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Evers DC, Ackerman JT, Åkerblom S, Bally D, Basu N, Bishop K, Bodin N, Braaten HFV, Burton MEH, Bustamante P, Chen C, Chételat J, Christian L, Dietz R, Drevnick P, Eagles-Smith C, Fernandez LE, Hammerschlag N, Harmelin-Vivien M, Harte A, Krümmel EM, Brito JL, Medina G, Barrios Rodriguez CA, Stenhouse I, Sunderland E, Takeuchi A, Tear T, Vega C, Wilson S, Wu P. Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s10646-024-02747-x. [PMID: 38683471 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02747-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
An important provision of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the adopted measures and its implementation. Here, we describe for the first time currently available biotic mercury (Hg) data on a global scale to improve the understanding of global efforts to reduce the impact of Hg pollution on people and the environment. Data from the peer-reviewed literature were compiled in the Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database (>550,000 data points). These data provide a foundation for establishing a biomonitoring framework needed to track Hg concentrations in biota globally. We describe Hg exposure in the taxa identified by the Minamata Convention: fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Based on the GBMS database, Hg concentrations are presented at relevant geographic scales for continents and oceanic basins. We identify some effective regional templates for monitoring methylmercury (MeHg) availability in the environment, but overall illustrate that there is a general lack of regional biomonitoring initiatives around the world, especially in Africa, Australia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Temporal trend data for Hg in biota are generally limited. Ecologically sensitive sites (where biota have above average MeHg tissue concentrations) have been identified throughout the world. Efforts to model and quantify ecosystem sensitivity locally, regionally, and globally could help establish effective and efficient biomonitoring programs. We present a framework for a global Hg biomonitoring network that includes a three-step continental and oceanic approach to integrate existing biomonitoring efforts and prioritize filling regional data gaps linked with key Hg sources. We describe a standardized approach that builds on an evidence-based evaluation to assess the Minamata Convention's progress to reduce the impact of global Hg pollution on people and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA.
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | | | - Dominique Bally
- African Center for Environmental Health, BP 826 Cidex 03, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Nil Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Upsalla, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Bodin
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development Seychelles Fishing Authority, Victoria, Seychelles
| | | | - Mark E H Burton
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Celia Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Cliamte Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Linroy Christian
- Department of Analytical Services, Dunbars, Friars Hill, St John, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Paul Drevnick
- Teck American Incorporated, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Collin Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 29106, USA
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazonica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Shark Research Foundation Inc, 29 Wideview Lane, Boutiliers Point, NS, B3Z 0M9, Canada
| | - Mireille Harmelin-Vivien
- Aix-Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO), UM 110, Campus de Luminy, case 901, 13288, Marseille, cedex 09, France
| | - Agustin Harte
- Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Chem. des Anémones 15, 1219, Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eva M Krümmel
- Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada, Ottawa, Canada and ScienTissiME Inc, Barry's Bay, ON, Canada
| | - José Lailson Brito
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Medina
- Director of Basel Convention Coordinating Centre, Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, Hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Iain Stenhouse
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Elsie Sunderland
- Harvard University, Pierce Hall 127, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Akinori Takeuchi
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Health and Environmental Risk Division, 16-2 Onogawa Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Tim Tear
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Claudia Vega
- Centro de Innovaccion Cientifica Amazonica (CINCIA), Jiron Ucayali 750, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17001, Peru
| | - Simon Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pianpian Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
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6
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Bai Z, Yin J, Cheng L, Song L, Zhang YY, Wang M. Multistress Interplay: Time and Duration of Ocean Acidification Modulate the Toxicity of Mercury and Other Metals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6487-6498. [PMID: 38579165 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The current understanding of multistress interplay assumes stresses occur in perfect synchrony, but this assumption is rarely met in the natural marine ecosystem. To understand the interplay between nonperfectly overlapped stresses in the ocean, we manipulated a multigenerational experiment (F0-F3) to explore how different temporal scenarios of ocean acidification will affect mercury toxicity in a marine copepod Pseudodiaptomus annandalei. We found that the scenario of past acidification aggravated mercury toxicity but current and persistent acidification mitigated its toxicity. We specifically performed a proteomics analysis for the copepods of F3. The results indicated that current and persistent acidification initiated the energy compensation for development and mercury efflux, whereas past acidification lacked the barrier of H+ and had dysfunction in the detoxification and efflux system, providing a mechanistic understanding of mercury toxicity under different acidification scenarios. Furthermore, we conducted a meta-analysis on marine animals, demonstrating that different acidification scenarios could alter the toxicity of several other metals, despite evidence from nonsynchronous scenarios remaining limited. Our study thus demonstrates that time and duration of ocean acidification modulate mercury toxicity in marine copepods and suggests that future studies should move beyond the oversimplified scenario of perfect synchrony in understanding multistress interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoan Bai
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Junjie Yin
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Luman Cheng
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Luting Song
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yuan-Ye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Minghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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7
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Pereira-Garcia C, Sanz-Sáez I, Sánchez P, Coutinho FH, Bravo AG, Sánchez O, Acinas SG. Genomic and transcriptomic characterization of methylmercury detoxification in a deep ocean Alteromonas mediterranea ISS312. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123725. [PMID: 38467369 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most worrisome pollutants in marine systems. MeHg detoxification is mediated by merB and merA genes, responsible for the demethylation of MeHg and the reduction of inorganic mercury, respectively. Little is known about the biological capacity to detoxify this compound in marine environments, and even less the bacterial transcriptional changes during MeHg detoxification. This study provides the genomic and transcriptomic characterization of the deep ocean bacteria Alteromonas mediterranea ISS312 with capacity for MeHg degradation. Its genome sequence revealed four mer operons containing three merA gene and two merB gene copies, that could be horizontally transferred among distant related genomes by mobile genetic elements. The transcriptomic profiling in the presence of 5 μM MeHg showed that merA and merB genes are within the most expressed genes, although not all mer genes were equally transcribed. Besides, we aimed to identify functional orthologous genes that displayed expression profiles highly similar or identical to those genes within the mer operons, which could indicate they are under the same regulatory controls. We found contrasting expression profiles for each mer operon that were positively correlated with a wide array of functions mostly related to amino acid metabolism, but also to flagellar assembly or two component systems. Also, this study highlights that all merAB genes of the four operons were globally distributed across oceans layers with higher transcriptional activity in the mesopelagic deeper waters. Our study provides new insights about the transcriptional patterns related to the capacity of marine bacteria to detoxify MeHg, with important implications for the understanding of this process in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Pereira-Garcia
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
| | - Isabel Sanz-Sáez
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Pablo Sánchez
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Felipe H Coutinho
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Andrea G Bravo
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Olga Sánchez
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Silvia G Acinas
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
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8
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Liu X, Wang X, Wang D. Assessment of tree-ring mercury radial translocation and age effect in Masson pine: Implications for historical atmospheric mercury reconstruction. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 138:266-276. [PMID: 38135394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The tree ring has been regarded as an emerging archive to reconstruct historical atmospheric mercury (Hg) trends, but with the large knowledge gaps in the reliability. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the Hg source, radial translocation and age effect of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) tree ring at Mt. Jinyun in Chongqing, to assess the suitability of such tree ring as the archive of atmospheric Hg. Results showed that distinct variabilities among Masson pine tree-ring Hg concentration profiles. The Hg concentration significantly increased along with stem height (P < 0.05), indicating the Hg in tree rings mainly derived from foliage uptake atmospheric Hg. We found a distinct age effect that the tree ring of young trees had the higher Hg concentration. Besides, we used the advection-diffusion model to demonstrate how Hg concentration shifted by the advection or/and diffusion in tree rings. The modeling results showed that the advection induced radial translocation during the young growth period of tree was a plausible mechanism to result in the tree-ring Hg record largely different from the trend of anthropogenic Hg emissions in Chongqing. We finally suggest that in further Hg dendrochemistry, better discarding the tree-ring Hg profile of the young growth period to reduce impacts of the radial translocation and age effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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9
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Fu X, Sun X, Travnikov O, Li Q, Qin C, Cuevas CA, Fernandez RP, Mahajan AS, Wang S, Wang T, Saiz-Lopez A. Anthropogenic short-lived halogens increase human exposure to mercury contamination due to enhanced mercury oxidation over continents. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315058121. [PMID: 38466839 PMCID: PMC10963006 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315058121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of global concern, and an accurate understanding of its atmospheric fate is needed to assess its risks to humans and ecosystem health. Atmospheric oxidation of Hg is key to the deposition of this toxic metal to the Earth's surface. Short-lived halogens (SLHs) can provide halogen radicals to directly oxidize Hg and perturb the budget of other Hg oxidants (e.g., OH and O3). In addition to known ocean emissions of halogens, recent observational evidence has revealed abundant anthropogenic emissions of SLHs over continental areas. However, the impacts of anthropogenic SLHs emissions on the atmospheric fate of Hg and human exposure to Hg contamination remain unknown. Here, we show that the inclusion of anthropogenic SLHs substantially increased local Hg oxidation and, consequently, deposition in/near Hg continental source regions by up to 20%, thereby decreasing Hg export from source regions to clean environments. Our modeling results indicated that the inclusion of anthropogenic SLHs can lead to higher Hg exposure in/near Hg source regions than estimated in previous assessments, e.g., with increases of 8.7% and 7.5% in China and India, respectively, consequently leading to higher Hg-related human health risks. These results highlight the urgent need for policymakers to reduce local Hg and SLHs emissions. We conclude that the substantial impacts of anthropogenic SLHs emissions should be included in model assessments of the Hg budget and associated health risks at local and global scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Fu
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Xianyi Sun
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Oleg Travnikov
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana1000, Slovenia
| | - Qinyi Li
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid28006, Spain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong999077, China
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, China
| | - Chuang Qin
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Carlos A. Cuevas
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid28006, Spain
| | - Rafael P. Fernandez
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, National Research Council, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Cuyo, MendozaM5502JMA, Argentina
| | - Anoop S. Mahajan
- Centre for Climate Change Research, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Pashan, Pune411008, India
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong999077, China
| | - Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid28006, Spain
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10
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Yuan W, Wang X, Lin CJ, Zhang G, Wu F, Liu N, Jia L, Zhang H, Lu H, Dong J, Feng X. Fate and Transport of Mercury through Waterflows in a Tropical Rainforest. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4968-4978. [PMID: 38452105 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Knowledge gaps of mercury (Hg) biogeochemical processes in the tropical rainforest limit our understanding of the global Hg mass budget. In this study, we applied Hg stable isotope tracing techniques to quantitatively understand the Hg fate and transport during the waterflows in a tropical rainforest including open-field precipitation, throughfall, and runoff. Hg concentrations in throughfall are 1.5-2 times of the levels in open-field rainfall. However, Hg deposition contributed by throughfall and open-field rainfall is comparable due to the water interception by vegetative biomasses. Runoff from the forest shows nearly one order of magnitude lower Hg concentration than those in throughfall. In contrast to the positive Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg signatures in open-field rainfall, throughfall water exhibits nearly zero signals of Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg, while runoff shows negative Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg signals. Using a binary mixing model, Hg in throughfall and runoff is primarily derived from atmospheric Hg0 inputs, with average contributions of 65 ± 18 and 91 ± 6%, respectively. The combination of flux and isotopic modeling suggests that two-thirds of atmospheric Hg2+ input is intercepted by vegetative biomass, with the remaining atmospheric Hg2+ input captured by the forest floor. Overall, these findings shed light on simulation of Hg cycle in tropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Ge Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Fei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Nantao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Longyu Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Huazheng Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Jinlong Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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11
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Sun C, Wang X, Qiao X. Multimedia fate simulation of mercury in a coastal urban area based on the fugacity/aquivalence method. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:170084. [PMID: 38224886 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Due to intensive industrial production and living activities, urban areas are the main anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emission sources. After entering the environment through exhaust gases, wastewater or waste residues, Hg can migrate and transform among different environmental compartments in various species, such as elemental mercury (Hg0), divalent mercury (Hg2+) and methylmercury (MeHg). Studies have yet to report on the multimedia behaviors of Hg in urban areas due to the complexity of the processes involved. In this study, the atmospheric Hg emission in Dalian, a coastal city in Northeast China, was estimated by an anthropogenic emission inventory, and a Level III multimedia model was constructed based on the fugacity/aquivalence method to simulate the fate of Hg in air, water, soil, sediment, vegetation and film. The total annual atmospheric emission was 9.91 t, of which coal combustion and non-coal sources accounted for 70.1 % and 29.9 %, respectively. Atmospheric emission and advection were dominated by Hg0, and aquatic emission and advection were dominated by Hg2+. The migration of air-vegetation, vegetation-soil and soil-air were three important pathways of Hg in urban areas. The model was validated by collecting local soil and vegetation samples and regional air, seawater and sediment monitoring data. The scenario simulation indicated that the local load would decrease to different extents with a 21.0 % reduction in atmospheric Hg emission by implementing the "coal-to-gas" measures. Our developed model can characterize the fate of Hg in coastal urban areas and provide a reference for control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xiaochen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xianliang Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
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12
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Bartley MC, Tremblay T, De Silva AO, Michelle Kamula C, Ciastek S, Kuzyk ZZA. Sedimentary records of contaminant inputs in Frobisher Bay, Nunavut. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 18:100313. [PMID: 37860827 PMCID: PMC10582354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), primarily reach the Arctic through long-range atmospheric and oceanic transport. However, local sources within the Arctic also contribute to the levels observed in the environment, including legacy sources and new sources that arise from activities associated with increasing commercial and industrial development. The City of Iqaluit in Frobisher Bay, Nunavut (Canada), has seen rapid population growth and associated development during recent decades yet remains a site of interest for ocean protection, where Inuit continue to harvest country food. In the present study, seven dated marine sediment cores collected in Koojesse Inlet near Iqaluit, and from sites in inner and outer Frobisher Bay, respectively, were analyzed for total mercury (THg), major and trace elements, PAHs, PCBs, and PFASs. The sedimentary record in Koojesse Inlet shows a period of Aroclor 1260-like PCB input concurrent with military site presence in the 1950-60s, followed by decades of input of pyrogenic PAHs, averaging about ten times background levels. Near-surface sediments in Koojesse Inlet also show evidence of transient local-source inputs of THg and PFASs, and recycling or continued slow release of PCBs from legacy land-based sources. Differences in PFAS congener composition clearly distinguish the local sources from long-range transport. Outside Koojesse Inlet but still in inner Frobisher Bay, 9.2 km from Iqaluit, sediments showed evidence of both local source (PCB) and long-range transport. In outer Frobisher Bay, an up-core increase in THg and PFASs in sediments may be explained by ongoing inputs of these contaminants from long-range transport. The context for ocean protection and country food harvesting in this region of the Arctic clearly involves both local sources and long-range transport, with past human activities leaving a long legacy insofar as levels of persistent organic pollutants are concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan C. Bartley
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Environment and Geography, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Tommy Tremblay
- Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0, Canada
| | - Amila O. De Silva
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - C. Michelle Kamula
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Stephen Ciastek
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Zou Zou A. Kuzyk
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Environment and Geography, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Earth Sciences, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
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13
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Sahoo PK, Guimarães JTF, Salomão GN, Reis LS, da Silva EF, de Figueiredo MMJC, da Silva KL, Dall'Agnol R. Historical Hg accumulation (∼65 cal kyr BP) in upland lakes of the Southeastern Brazilian Amazonia: New evidence of the extent of geogenic and diagenetic control. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168930. [PMID: 38042179 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The historical upland lake sediments in the Brazilian Amazon witnessed significant enrichment of total mercury (Hg). However, its spatio-temporal relationships between lakes and the main factors responsible for this enrichment are still poorly constrained. Given this, we geochemically investigated 12 radiometrically dated (extending back to ∼65 cal kyr BP) sediment cores from the Carajás plateau, Brazil. The Hg level in historical sediments presented a large temporal variability (from 1 to 3200 μg/kg), with maximum accumulation peaks observed between 30 and 45 cal kyr BP in core R2, LB3, and R1. However, the lack of the Hg peak in other cores (LV2 and LTI3) during the same period despite being proximity and non-correlation of these Hg peaks with the onset of major volcanic events indicates that this source has little bearing. Hg enrichment is highly dependent on the type of sedimentary facies, with higher values were associated with detritic facies (MI) and detritic+organic facies (P/M). Principal component analysis shows that aluminosilicate minerals and organic matter are essential hosts of Hg in sediments. The positive correlation between Al, Ti, and Hg in detritic facies and their strong coherence with Hg/TOC in R1, R5, LSL, ST02, and LB3 cores indicate that Hg is primarily of lithogenic origin. This can be substantiated by the higher background threshold value of Hg (574 μg/kg) in historical lake sediments compared to those in recent lake sediments (340 μg/kg). However, the most pronounced Hg peak (3200 μg/kg) in R2 around 45 cal kyr BP, which correlates positively with TOC, S, Se, As, and Mo indicates their diagenetic enrichment in organic-rich sediments under anoxic conditions. Thus, in addition to the lithogenic effect, it can be argued that diagenesis can play a significant role in prompting Hg enrichment in the Carajás lake sediments in Amazonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prafulla Kumar Sahoo
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Central University of Punjab, VPO-Ghudda 151401 Bathinda, India.
| | | | | | - Luiza Santos Reis
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, Nazaré, Belém 66055-090, PA, Brazil; Micropaleontology Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 562-Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-080, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Karen Lopes da Silva
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, Nazaré, Belém 66055-090, PA, Brazil
| | - Roberto Dall'Agnol
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, Nazaré, Belém 66055-090, PA, Brazil
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14
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Pisconte JN, Vega CM, Sayers CJ, Sevillano-Ríos CS, Pillaca M, Quispe E, Tejeda V, Ascorra C, Silman MR, Fernandez LE. Elevated mercury exposure in bird communities inhabiting Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining landscapes of the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s10646-024-02740-4. [PMID: 38363482 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02740-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) represents a significant source of anthropogenic mercury emissions to the environment, with potentially severe implications for avian biodiversity. In the Madre de Dios department of the southern Peruvian Amazon, ASGM activities have created landscapes marred by deforestation and post-mining water bodies (mining ponds) with notable methylation potential. While data on Hg contamination in terrestrial wildlife remains limited, this study measures Hg exposure in several terrestrial bird species as bioindicators. Total Hg (THg) levels in feathers from birds near water bodies, including mining ponds associated with ASGM areas and oxbow lakes, were analyzed. Our results showed significantly higher Hg concentrations in birds from ASGM sites with mean ± SD of 3.14 ± 7.97 µg/g (range: 0.27 to 72.75 µg/g, n = 312) compared to control sites with a mean of 0.47 ± 0.42 µg/g (range: 0.04 to 1.89 µg/g, n = 52). Factors such as trophic guilds, ASGM presence, and water body area significantly influenced feather Hg concentrations. Notably, piscivorous birds exhibited the highest Hg concentration (31.03 ± 25.25 µg/g, n = 12) exceeding known concentrations that affect reproductive success, where one measurement of Chloroceryle americana (Green kingfisher; 72.7 µg/g) is among the highest ever reported in South America. This research quantifies Hg exposure in avian communities in Amazonian regions affected by ASGM, highlighting potential risks to regional bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Pisconte
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú.
| | - Claudia M Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-, Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Christopher J Sayers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Martin Pillaca
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
| | - Edwin Quispe
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
| | - Vania Tejeda
- World Wildlife Fund-Peru, Trinidad Moran 853, Lima 14, Lima, Peru
| | - Cesar Ascorra
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
| | - Miles R Silman
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-, Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-, Salem, NC, 27106, USA
- Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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15
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Gimeno M, Rossell L, Julià L, Giménez J, Sanpera C, Coll M, Bustamante P, Ramírez F. Assessing mercury contamination in Southern Hemisphere marine ecosystems: The role of penguins as effective bioindicators. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123159. [PMID: 38104761 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant known for its significant bioaccumulation and biomagnification capabilities, posing a particular threat to marine environments. Seabirds have been recognized as effective bioindicators of marine pollution, and, among them, penguins present a unique opportunity to serve as a single taxonomic group (Sphenisciformes) for monitoring Hg across distinct marine ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review of Hg concentrations, and performed a meta-analysis that took into account the various sources of uncertainty associated with Hg contamination in penguins. Beyond intrinsic species-specific factors shaping Hg levels, our results showed that the penguin community effectively reflects spatial patterns of Hg bioavailability. We identified geographic Hg hotspots in Australia, the Indian Ocean, and Tierra del Fuego, as well as coldspots in Perú and the South Atlantic. Furthermore, specific penguin species, namely the Southern Rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome) and Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), are highlighted as particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of Hg. Additionally, we identified knowledge gaps in geographic areas such as the Galápagos Islands, South Africa, and the coast of Chile, as well as in species including Fiordland (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), Snares (Eudyptes robustus), Erect-crested (Eudyptes sclateri), Royal (Eudyptes schlegeli), Yellow-eyed (Megadyptes antipodes), and Galápagos (Spheniscus mendiculus) penguins. Overall, our study contributes to the growing body of literature emphasizing the role of penguins as bioindicators of Hg pollution, but it also highlights areas where further research and data collection are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of Hg contamination in marine ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Míriam Gimeno
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av/Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Rossell
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Julià
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Giménez
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanografico de Málaga (COMA), Fuengirola, Spain
| | - Carolina Sanpera
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av/Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Coll
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Francisco Ramírez
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Cheney CL, Eccles KM, Kimpe LE, Lehnherr I, Blais JM. Mercury deposition to lake sediments near historic gold mines in northern Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123038. [PMID: 38030109 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123038] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in aquatic systems can lead to adverse human and environmental health outcomes. Yellowknife, a city in Canada's Northwest Territories, is a historic mining community, with two large gold mines (Giant Mine and Con Mine) that used Hg amalgamation methods to extract gold between ∼1938 and 1960. We analyzed dated sediment cores from 20 small lakes to investigate the spatial and temporal Hg deposition patterns within 50 km of Giant Mine. Breakpoint analysis of the within-lake z-score normalized anthropogenic Hg flux indicates two significant time periods of changing emission rates. The first is a significant increase in Hg deposition rate (∼1925) during the time of gold exploration in the region and onset of Hg amalgamation (1938) and the second is a significant decrease in deposition rate that begins around the time of the cessation of Hg amalgamation at Giant Mine (∼1959). Sediment Hg concentrations exceeded the Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment Interim Sediment Quality Guideline (ISQG) for Hg (0.17 mg/kg dw) in 55% of the lakes (n = 11) during mining (1948-1999). All lakes within 5 km of the Giant Mine roaster stack exceeded CCME ISQG during mining (n = 8), with a 4-fold increase in total Hg concentration observed during mining at these near-field (<5 km from stack) sites. We observed evidence of enriched Hg in near-field, mid-field, and far-field sites. The elevated sedimentary Hg concentrations during mining in near-field sites would have posed a hazard to human and wildlife health during the height of emissions, however the significant decrease in Hg concentrations since the closure of mines in the region demonstrate the potential for recovery in these aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Cheney
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Kristin M Eccles
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Linda E Kimpe
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Jules M Blais
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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17
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Zhang C, Xia T, Zhang L, Chen Z, Zhang H, Jia X, Jia L, Zhu X, Li G. Mercury pollution risks of agricultural soils and crops in mercury mining areas in Guizhou Province, China: effects of large mercury slag piles. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:53. [PMID: 38245580 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01841-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The historical large mercury slag piles still contain high concentrations of mercury and their impact on the surrounding environment has rarely been reported. In this study, three different agricultural areas [the area with untreated piles (PUT), the area with treated piles (PT), and the background area with no piles (NP)] were selected to investigate mercury slag piles pollution in the Tongren mercury mining area. The mercury concentrations of agricultural soils ranged from 0.42 to 155.00 mg/kg, determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry of 146 soil samples; and mercury concentrations in local crops (rice, maize, pepper, eggplant, tomato and bean) all exceeded the Chinese food safety limits. Soil and crop pollution trends in the three areas were consistent as PUT > PT > NP, indicating that mercury slag piles have exacerbated pollution. Mercury in the slag piles was adsorbed by multiple pathways of transport into soils with high organic matter, which made the ecological risk of agricultural soils appear extremely high. The total hazard quotients for residents from ingesting mercury in these crops were unacceptable in all areas, and children were more likely to be harmed than adults. Compared to the PT area, treatment of slag piles in the PUT area may decrease mercury concentrations in paddy fields and dry fields by 46.02% and 70.36%; further decreasing health risks for adults and children by 47.06% and 79.90%. This study provided a scientific basis for the necessity of treating large slag piles in mercury mining areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Tianxiang Xia
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China.
| | - Lina Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China.
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Zhuo Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Haonan Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xiaoyang Jia
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Lin Jia
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Guangbing Li
- Tongren Environmental Science and Technology Consulting Center, Tongren, 554399, China
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Baldwin AK, Janssen SE, Tate MT, Poulin BA, Yoder AM, Naymik J, Larsen C, Hoovestol C, Krabbenhoft DP. Mercury sources and budget for the Snake River above a hydroelectric reservoir complex. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167961. [PMID: 37865255 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167961] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Understanding sources of mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) to a water body is critical for management but is often complicated by poorly characterized Hg inputs and in situ processes, such as inorganic Hg methylation. In this study, we determined inorganic Hg and MeHg concentrations and loads (filter-passing and particulate fractions) for a semi-arid 164-kilometer stretch of the Snake River above the Hells Canyon Complex, a Hg-impaired hydroelectric reservoir complex on the Idaho-Oregon border, and used water quality measurements and Hg stable isotope ratios to create a comprehensive Hg source budget for the river. Results show that whereas most of the streamflow to the study reach comes from the main branch of the Snake River (i.e., the upstream watershed), major tributaries within the study reach contribute a greater proportion of inorganic Hg and MeHg loads. Mercury stable-isotope analyses highlight that Hg within the tributaries is predominantly associated with geologic deposits and snowmelt sources, the latter reflecting wet deposition. Surprisingly, irrigation return drains contribute 40-50 % of particulate inorganic Hg loads despite being ≤4.3 % of the overall water budget. Together, tributaries and irrigation return drains account for 97-100 % of the inorganic Hg and streamflow to the study reach, but ~65 % of the MeHg, indicating in-stream and riparian methylation may be an important and previously unrecognized source of MeHg. Streamflow, total suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon, and agricultural land cover were found to be important controls on the mobilization and transport of different Hg species and fractions. This study represents the first fluvial budget for Hg in the Snake River that accounts for particulate and filter-passing Hg species from both major tributaries and irrigation return drains, and expands our understanding of Hg sources and methylation processes within semi-arid environments. This information is critical to inform management decisions related to elevated Hg burdens in biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin K Baldwin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Water Science Center, United States of America.
| | - Sarah E Janssen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, United States of America
| | - Michael T Tate
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, United States of America
| | - Brett A Poulin
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Davis, United States of America
| | - Alysa M Yoder
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Water Science Center, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - David P Krabbenhoft
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, United States of America
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19
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Kim YG, Kwon SY, Washburn SJ, Hong Y, Han SH, Lee M, Park JH. Environmental forensics approach to source investigation in a mercury contaminated river: Insights from mercury stable isotopes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132559. [PMID: 37729710 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Environmental forensics approach was applied to assess the efficacy of mercury (Hg) stable isotopes for source screening and decision-making in the Hyeongsan River, South Korea. Four Hg contamination scenarios were identified- atmospheric Hg emissions from a steel manufacturing industry, upstream riverine Hg transport, and industrial Hg releases and historical landfill collapse from Gumu Creek. The absence of significant Hg isotope difference between the Hyeongsan River sediments (δ202Hg; -0.46 ± 0.17‰, Δ199Hg; -0.04 ± 0.06‰) and the Gumu Creek sediment (δ202Hg; -0.39 ± 0.26‰, Δ199Hg; -0.04 ± 0.03‰) confirm that Hg source is originated from Gumu Creek. The heterogeneous Hg distribution throughout Gumu Creek and statistically similar Hg isotope ratios between Gumu Creek and solid waste cores from the landfill suggests that the landfill collapse is the dominant source to the Hyeongsan-Gumu system. Present Hg releases is also possible given the elevated and matching Δ199Hg between some riverine sediments and wastewater sampled from the landfill. The ternary mixing model estimates that the landfill collapse and wastewater releases contribute 61 ± 25 % and 22 ± 11 %, and the regional background, reflecting terrestrial runoff using deep sediment cores, explain 17 ± 24 % of Hg to the riverine sediment. We suggest that Hg isotopes can be used for routine source screening in areas where Hg sources are unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Gwang Kim
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-Ro, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon 21983, South Korea.
| | - Spencer J Washburn
- Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., 100 Washington Ave. S, Suite 1590, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA
| | - Yongseok Hong
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-Ro, Sejong City 30019, South Korea
| | - Seung Hee Han
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-Ro, Buk-Gu, Gwangju 61005, South Korea
| | - Mikyung Lee
- Water Environmental Engineering Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42 Hwangyeong-Ro, Seo-Gu, Incheon 22689, South Korea
| | - Ji Hyoung Park
- Water Environmental Engineering Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42 Hwangyeong-Ro, Seo-Gu, Incheon 22689, South Korea
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20
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Huang Y, Yi J, Huang Y, Zhong S, Zhao B, Zhou J, Wang Y, Zhu Y, Du Y, Li F. Insights into the reduction of methylmercury accumulation in rice grains through biochar application: Hg transformation, isotope fractionation, and transcriptomic analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122863. [PMID: 37925005 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122863] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxin, easily moves from the soil into rice plants and subsequently accumulates within the grains. Although biochar can reduce MeHg accumulation in rice grains, the precise mechanism underlying biochar-mediated responses to mercury (Hg) stress, specifically regarding MeHg accumulation in rice, remains poorly understood. In the current study, we employed a 4% biochar amendment to remediate Hg-contaminated paddy soil, elucidate the impacts of biochar on MeHg accumulation through a comprehensive analysis involving Hg isotopic fractionation and transcriptomic analyses. The results demonstrated that biochar effectively lowered the levels of MeHg in paddy soils by decreasing bioavailable Hg and microbial Hg methylation. Furthermore, biochar reduced the uptake and translocation of MeHg in rice plants, ultimately leading to a reduction MeHg accumulation in rice grains. During the process of total mercury (THg) uptake, biochar induced a more pronounced negative isotope fractionation magnitude, whereas the effect was less pronounced during the upward transport of THg. Conversely, biochar caused a more pronounced positive isotope fractionation magnitude during the upward transport of MeHg. Transcriptomics analyses revealed that biochar altered the expression levels of genes associated with the metabolism of cysteine, glutathione, and metallothionein, cell wall biogenesis, and transport, which possibly enhance the sequestration of MeHg in rice roots. These findings provide novel insights into the effects of biochar application on Hg transformation and transport, highlighting its role in mitigating MeHg accumulation in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmei Huang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Jicai Yi
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yao Huang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Songxiong Zhong
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Jing Zhou
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Yuxuan Wang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Yiwen Zhu
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Yanhong Du
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Fangbai Li
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China.
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21
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Chen C, Huang JH, Li K, Osterwalder S, Yang C, Waldner P, Zhang H, Fu X, Feng X. Isotopic Characterization of Mercury Atmosphere-Foliage and Atmosphere-Soil Exchange in a Swiss Subalpine Coniferous Forest. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15892-15903. [PMID: 37788478 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
To understand the role of vegetation and soil in regulating atmospheric Hg0, exchange fluxes and isotope signatures of Hg were characterized using a dynamic flux bag/chamber at the atmosphere-foliage/soil interfaces at the Davos-Seehornwald forest, Switzerland. The foliage was a net Hg0 sink and took up preferentially the light Hg isotopes, consequently resulting in large shifts (-3.27‰) in δ202Hg values. The soil served mostly as net sources of atmospheric Hg0 with higher Hg0 emission from the moss-covered soils than from bare soils. The negative shift of δ202Hg and Δ199Hg values of the efflux air relative to ambient air and the Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg ratio among ambient air, efflux air, and soil pore gas highlight that Hg0 re-emission was strongly constrained by soil pore gas evasion together with microbial reduction. The isotopic mass balance model indicates 8.4 times higher Hg0 emission caused by pore gas evasion than surface soil photoreduction. Deposition of atmospheric Hg0 to soil was noticeably 3.2 times higher than that to foliage, reflecting the high significance of the soil to influence atmospheric Hg0 isotope signatures. This study improves our understanding of Hg atmosphere-foliage/soil exchange in subalpine coniferous forests, which is indispensable in the model assessment of forest Hg biogeochemical cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Jen-How Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chenmeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Peter Waldner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xuewu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
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22
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Ci Z, Tang X, Shen W, Chen B. Gaseous mercury exchange between air and highly dynamic tidal flats: A laboratory incubation experiment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122383. [PMID: 37586689 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122383] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Gaseous mercury (mainly elemental mercury, Hg(0)) exchange between air and Earth's surfaces is one of the most critical fluxes governing global Hg cycle. As an important and unique part of intertidal ecosystem, tidal flat is characterized by periodic inundation and exposure due to tidal cycle, generating varying hydrological, photochemical and biogeochemical processes. However, quantitative and mechanistic understanding of Hg(0) dynamics between air and exceptionally dynamic tide flats has remained limited to date. In this study, we select five representative tidal flat sediments from typical coastal habits of Chinese coastlines to perform laboratory incubation experiments for deciphering the effect of the interaction of tidal cycle and solar radiation on Hg(0) dynamics over tidal flats with different sediment compositions. We show that sediment Hg concentration, tidal cycle and solar radiation collectively modulate the air-surface Hg(0) exchange over tidal flats and highlight that the photochemistry dominates the Hg(0) production and emission over tidal flats. We find that the daytime inundation presents highest Hg(0) emission fluxes for Hg-poor sediment, but the daytime exposure is the hot moment of Hg(0) emission from Hg-rich sediments and substantially contributes to daily Hg(0) emission fluxes. In the treatment to mimic semidiurnal tide, the daily Hg(0) fluxes are positively correlated to sediment Hg concentrations. Combining our mechanistic insights on air-surface Hg(0) exchange over tidal flats and related data and knowledge reported by other studies, we discuss the implications of our study for field measurement and model development of Hg(0) dynamics over highly dynamic tidal flats. We conclude that the air-surface Hg(0) dynamics over tidal flats are extremely complex and highly variable, and a greater understanding the interactions between natural processes, human impacts and climate forcings will better constrain current and future Hg biogeochemical cycle in global tidal flats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Ci
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China.
| | - Xiong Tang
- Guangdong Eco-Engineering Polytechnic, Guangzhou, 510520, China
| | - Wenjie Shen
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Geological Process and Mineral Resources Exploration, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Baowei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
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23
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Sayers CJ, Evers DC, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Adams E, Vega CM, Pisconte JN, Tejeda V, Regan K, Lane OP, Ash AA, Cal R, Reneau S, Martínez W, Welch G, Hartwell K, Teul M, Tzul D, Arendt WJ, Tórrez MA, Watsa M, Erkenswick G, Moore CE, Gerson J, Sánchez V, Purizaca RP, Yurek H, Burton MEH, Shrum PL, Tabares-Segovia S, Vargas K, Fogarty FF, Charette MR, Martínez AE, Bernhardt ES, Taylor RJ, Tear TH, Fernandez LE. Mercury in Neotropical birds: a synthesis and prospectus on 13 years of exposure data. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:1096-1123. [PMID: 37907784 PMCID: PMC10622370 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02706-y] [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] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Environmental mercury (Hg) contamination of the global tropics outpaces our understanding of its consequences for biodiversity. Knowledge gaps of pollution exposure could obscure conservation threats in the Neotropics: a region that supports over half of the world's species, but faces ongoing land-use change and Hg emission via artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Due to their global distribution and sensitivity to pollution, birds provide a valuable opportunity as bioindicators to assess how accelerating Hg emissions impact an ecosystem's ability to support biodiversity, and ultimately, global health. We present the largest database on Neotropical bird Hg concentrations (n = 2316) and establish exposure baselines for 322 bird species spanning nine countries across Central America, South America, and the West Indies. Patterns of avian Hg exposure in the Neotropics broadly align with those in temperate regions: consistent bioaccumulation across functional groups and high spatiotemporal variation. Bird species occupying higher trophic positions and aquatic habitats exhibited elevated Hg concentrations that have been previously associated with reductions in reproductive success. Notably, bird Hg concentrations were over four times higher at sites impacted by ASGM activities and differed by season for certain trophic niches. We developed this synthesis via a collaborative research network, the Tropical Research for Avian Conservation and Ecotoxicology (TRACE) Initiative, which exemplifies inclusive, equitable, and international data-sharing. While our findings signal an urgent need to assess sampling biases, mechanisms, and consequences of Hg exposure to tropical avian communities, the TRACE Initiative provides a meaningful framework to achieve such goals. Ultimately, our collective efforts support and inform local, scientific, and government entities, including Parties of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, as we continue working together to understand how Hg pollution impacts biodiversity conservation, ecosystem function, and public health in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Sayers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA.
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Peru.
| | - David C Evers
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | | | - Evan Adams
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Claudia M Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Peru
- Department of Biology, Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Jessica N Pisconte
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Peru
| | - Vania Tejeda
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Peru
| | - Kevin Regan
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Oksana P Lane
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Abidas A Ash
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Price Center Road, P.O. Box 340, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize
| | - Reynold Cal
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - Stevan Reneau
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - Wilber Martínez
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - Gilroy Welch
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - Kayla Hartwell
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - Mario Teul
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - David Tzul
- Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Tropical Education Center, 28 George Price Highway, P.O. Box 368, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize
| | - Wayne J Arendt
- International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, 1201 Calle Ceiba, Jardín Botánico Sur, San Juan, 00926-1119, Puerto Rico
| | - Marvin A Tórrez
- Instituto Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Centroamericana, Managua, Nicaragua
| | - Mrinalini Watsa
- Beckman Center for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA, 92112, USA
- Field Projects International, Escondido, CA, 92029, USA
| | | | - Caroline E Moore
- Beckman Center for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA, 92112, USA
| | - Jacqueline Gerson
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Victor Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación, Trujillo, Peru
| | - Raúl Pérez Purizaca
- Universidad Nacional de Piura, Urb. Miraflores S/N, Castilla, 20002, Piura, Peru
| | - Helen Yurek
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Mark E H Burton
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Peggy L Shrum
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | | | - Korik Vargas
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Finola F Fogarty
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society, 27.5 Miles Hummingbird Hwy, Stann Creek, Belize
| | - Mathieu R Charette
- Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society, 27.5 Miles Hummingbird Hwy, Stann Creek, Belize
| | - Ari E Martínez
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | | | - Robert J Taylor
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Timothy H Tear
- Center for Mercury Studies, Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Peru
- Department of Biology, Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
- Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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24
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Cusset F, Bustamante P, Carravieri A, Bertin C, Brasso R, Corsi I, Dunn M, Emmerson L, Guillou G, Hart T, Juáres M, Kato A, Machado-Gaye AL, Michelot C, Olmastroni S, Polito M, Raclot T, Santos M, Schmidt A, Southwell C, Soutullo A, Takahashi A, Thiebot JB, Trathan P, Vivion P, Waluda C, Fort J, Cherel Y. Circumpolar assessment of mercury contamination: the Adélie penguin as a bioindicator of Antarctic marine ecosystems. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:1024-1049. [PMID: 37878111 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02709-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Due to its persistence and potential ecological and health impacts, mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of major concern that may reach high concentrations even in remote polar oceans. In contrast to the Arctic Ocean, studies documenting Hg contamination in the Southern Ocean are spatially restricted and large-scale monitoring is needed. Here, we present the first circumpolar assessment of Hg contamination in Antarctic marine ecosystems. Specifically, the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) was used as a bioindicator species, to examine regional variation across 24 colonies distributed across the entire Antarctic continent. Mercury was measured on body feathers collected from both adults (n = 485) and chicks (n = 48) between 2005 and 2021. Because penguins' diet represents the dominant source of Hg, feather δ13C and δ15N values were measured as proxies of feeding habitat and trophic position. As expected, chicks had lower Hg concentrations (mean ± SD: 0.22 ± 0.08 μg·g‒1) than adults (0.49 ± 0.23 μg·g‒1), likely because of their shorter bioaccumulation period. In adults, spatial variation in feather Hg concentrations was driven by both trophic ecology and colony location. The highest Hg concentrations were observed in the Ross Sea, possibly because of a higher consumption of fish in the diet compared to other sites (krill-dominated diet). Such large-scale assessments are critical to assess the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Owing to their circumpolar distribution and their ecological role in Antarctic marine ecosystems, Adélie penguins could be valuable bioindicators for tracking spatial and temporal trends of Hg across Antarctic waters in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Cusset
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Alice Carravieri
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Clément Bertin
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Rebecka Brasso
- Department of Zoology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, USA
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Louise Emmerson
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Antarctic Division, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Gaël Guillou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Tom Hart
- Department of Biological and Medicinal Sciences, Oxford Brooke University, Oxford, UK
| | - Mariana Juáres
- Departamento Biología de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Akiko Kato
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Candice Michelot
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Institut Maurice-Lamontagne, Pêches et Océans Canada, Mont-Joli, QC, Canada
| | - Silvia Olmastroni
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Museo Nazionale dell'Antartide, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Thierry Raclot
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67087, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mercedes Santos
- Departamento Biología de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Colin Southwell
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Antarctic Division, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alvaro Soutullo
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-8518, Japan
| | - Jean-Baptiste Thiebot
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-8518, Japan
- Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Minato-cho 3-1-1, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan
| | | | - Pierre Vivion
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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Yu C, Lin H, Guo J, Peng M, Liu M, Tong Y, Lu Y, Wang X, Pan X. Significant impacts of river inputs on the distributions and transports of mercury and methylmercury in nearshore and open seas - Simulation based on field surveys and mass balance modeling. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108216. [PMID: 37738696 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are important sources of Hg for adjacent seas, and seafood from nearshore waters is a major source of Hg exposure for humans. There is thus a key scientific concern regarding how much riverine Hg inputs influence Hg loads in nearshore waters as well as how far the impact range can extend from the river to the open sea. In addition, it is important to understand the influence of anthropogenic hydro-facilities and activities on Hg levels in downstream seas. Because of the concise mass exchange pattern between the seas and the previously demonstrated intensive Hg inputs under anthropogenic regulation from the Yellow River, the Bohai and Yellow Seas, which are key fishery and marine breeding areas for China, are an ideal research area for exploring the impacts of riverine Hg on nearshore and adjacent open seas. Field surveys were conducted in eight major rivers and two seas, and 433 water samples were collected. The main Hg input and output terms (rivers, ocean currents, underground discharge, sewage, coastal erosion, atmospheric deposition, surface evasion, sedimentation, and fisheries) were quantified in the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Owing to the high inputs from the Yellow and Yalu Rivers, elevated THg concentrations were found. Apart from direct MeHg discharge, riverine nutrients may also seemingly affect nearshore MeHg. Using mass balance models, we found that the Yellow River (9.8 t) was the dominant Hg source in the Bohai Sea, which accounted for more than half of all contributions, and the Bohai Sea played the role of a secondary source of Hg to the Yellow Sea, with a flux of 3.3 t. Anthropogenic hydro-activities in large rivers could significantly influence Hg outputs and loads in the nearshore and even open seas. This study provides useful information for water resource management applications to reduce potential MeHg risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Huiming Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Maodian Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yindong Tong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
| | - Yifan Lu
- Zhejiang Construction Investment Environment Engineering Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xuejun Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Xiangliang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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Kazim M, Hussain Syed J, Binnur Kurt-Karakus P, Ozkaleli Akcetin M, Akram S, Birgul A, Kara M, Dumanoglu Y, Odabasi M, Saqib Z, Nasir J, Mahar A, Shah T, Gulzar Burq M, Jones KC, Wania F. Gaseous elemental mercury emissions from informal E-Waste recycling facilities in Pakistan. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 170:261-269. [PMID: 37729843 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m-3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean ± s.d: 17 ± 22, range: 4.2-92 ng m-3), Lahore (16 ± 4.2, 8.2-22 ng m-3) and Peshawar (15 ± 17, 4.9-80 ng m-3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 ± 6.2, 3.1-25 ng m-3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 ± 16: 3.3-92 ng m-3) and summer (13 ± 8.7: 1.8-80 ng m-3) than in winter (12 ± 8.4: 2.5-49 ng m-3) and spring (9.2 ± 7.3: 1.8-80 ng m-3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mureed Kazim
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jabir Hussain Syed
- Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Tarlai Kalan Park Road, 45550 Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey.
| | - Merve Ozkaleli Akcetin
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Sumaira Akram
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Bahria University Islmabad Campus, Pakistan; Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Askin Birgul
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Melik Kara
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Yetkin Dumanoglu
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Odabasi
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Zafeer Saqib
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Nasir
- Earth Sciences Directorate, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARC), P.O. Box 8402, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Amanullah Mahar
- Centre for Environmental Science, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Taimoor Shah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Mohsin Gulzar Burq
- Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Johar Town Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Kevin C Jones
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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Ci Z, Tang X, Shen W, Chen B. Coastal streams and sewage outfalls: Hot spots of mercury discharge, pollution and cycling in nearshore environments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115536. [PMID: 37708606 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The coastal streams (CSs) and sewage outfalls (SOs) are widely distributed and direct anthropogenic stress on global coastal ecosystems. However, the CS/SO-associated mercury (Hg) discharge, pollution and cycle in nearshore environment are less quantified. Here, we report that total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MMHg) concentrations in waters of CSs (n = 8) and SOs (n = 15) of the northern China were ∼102 to 103 times of coastal surface waters and 10 to 102 times of major rivers in China and other regions. The CS/SO discharges resulted in the increase of total organic carbon (TOC) contents, THg and MMHg concentrations and TOC-normalized THg and MMHg concentrations in sediments of CS/SO-impacted coasts. The laboratory experiments further illustrated that the CS/SO-impacted sediments characterized with high potentials of dissolved THg and MMHg productions and releases. Our findings indicate that the layout optimization of SOs is able to reduce the Hg risk in coastal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Ci
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
| | - Xiong Tang
- Guangdong Eco-Engineering Polytechnic, Guangzhou 510520, China
| | - Wenjie Shen
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Geological Process and Mineral Resources Exploration, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Baowei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
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28
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Médieu A, Lorrain A, Point D. Are tunas relevant bioindicators of mercury concentrations in the global ocean? ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:994-1009. [PMID: 37328690 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02679-y] [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] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to toxic methylmercury mainly by consuming marine fish. The Minamata Convention aims at reducing anthropogenic mercury releases to protect human and ecosystem health, employing monitoring programs to meet its objectives. Tunas are suspected to be sentinels of mercury exposure in the ocean, though not evidenced yet. Here, we conducted a literature review of mercury concentrations in tropical tunas (bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack) and albacore, the four most exploited tunas worldwide. Strong spatial patterns of tuna mercury concentrations were shown, mainly explained by fish size, and methylmercury bioavailability in marine food web, suggesting that tunas reflect spatial trends of mercury exposure in their ecosystem. The few mercury long-term trends in tunas were contrasted and sometimes disconnected to estimated regional changes in atmospheric emissions and deposition, highlighting potential confounding effects of legacy mercury, and complex reactions governing the fate of mercury in the ocean. Inter-species differences of tuna mercury concentrations associated with their distinct ecology suggest that tropical tunas and albacore could be used complementarily to assess the vertical and horizontal variability of methylmercury in the ocean. Overall, this review elevates tunas as relevant bioindicators for the Minamata Convention, and calls for large-scale and continuous mercury measurements within the international community. We provide guidelines for tuna sample collection, preparation, analyses and data standardization with recommended transdisciplinary approaches to explore tuna mercury content in parallel with observation abiotic data, and biogeochemical model outputs. Such global and transdisciplinary biomonitoring is essential to explore the complex mechanisms of the marine methylmercury cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Médieu
- IRD, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR 6539, LEMAR, Plouzané, France.
| | - Anne Lorrain
- IRD, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR 6539, LEMAR, Plouzané, France
| | - David Point
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, GET, UMR CNRS 5563/IRD 234, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
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29
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Génard-Walton M, Warembourg C, Duros S, Ropert-Bouchet M, Lefebvre T, Guivarc'h-Levêque A, Le Martelot MT, Jacquemin B, Cordier S, Costet N, Multigner L, Garlantézec R. Heavy metals and diminished ovarian reserve: single-exposure and mixture analyses amongst women consulting in French fertility centres. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:103241. [PMID: 37451971 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Do heavy metals affect the risk of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in women of reproductive age? DESIGN A total of 139 cases and 153 controls were included between 2016 and 2020. The participants were aged between 18 and 40 years and attended consultations for couple infertility in one of four fertility centres in western France. Cases of DOR were defined as women with an antral follicle count less than 7, anti-Müllerian hormone levels 1.1 ng/ml or less, or both. Controls were frequency matched on age groups and centres, and were women with normal ovarian reserve evaluations, no malformations and menstrual cycles between 26 and 35 days. Heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium) were measured in whole blood at inclusion. Single-exposure associations were examined with multivariable logistic regressions adjusted on potential confounders. Mixture effects were investigated with quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS Chromium as a continuous exposure was significantly associated with DOR in unadjusted models (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.13) but the association was no longer significant when confounders were controlled for (adjusted OR 2.75, 95% CI 0.88 to 8.60). Similarly, a statistically significant association was observed for the unadjusted second tercile of cadmium exposure (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.06 to 3.30); however, this association was no longer statistically significant after adjustment. None of the other associations tested were statistically significant. Quantile g-computation and BKMR both yielded no significant change of risk of DOR for the mixture of metals, with no evidence of interaction. CONCLUSIONS Weak signals that some heavy metals could be associated with DOR were detected. These findings should be replicated in other studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilien Génard-Walton
- Université de Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Charline Warembourg
- Université de Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Solène Duros
- Reproductive Medicine, CHU Rennes, 35200 Rennes, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Bénédicte Jacquemin
- Université de Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Sylvaine Cordier
- Université de Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Nathalie Costet
- Université de Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Luc Multigner
- Université de Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Ronan Garlantézec
- Université de Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
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30
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Nair VR, Shanthil M, Sandeep K, Savitha KU, Archana A, Deepamol V, Swetha C, Vaishag PV. Quantum Dot-Based Fluorometric Sensor for Hg(II) in Water Customizable for Onsite Visual Detection. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:29468-29474. [PMID: 37599930 PMCID: PMC10433339 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
An easy naked-eye detection technique for mercuric ions in water using silanized quantum dots is demonstrated. Cadmium selenide quantum dots were synthesized and rendered water soluble by silica overcoating. The quantum dot emission was instantly turned off by the mercuric ions in the analyte, enabling visual detection. The emission quenching was associated with a concomitant bathochromic shift, both in the absorption and emission profiles. The underlying mechanism is a permanent surface modification of quantum dots by mercuric ions, altering the electronic structure and, in turn, the photophysical properties. The results confirmed the potential of this simple system to be customized for on-site visual detection of mercury contamination in water bodies, biological fluids, and soil with high selectivity and sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinayakan Ramachandran Nair
- Department
of Chemistry (Research Center under MG University, Kerala), NSS Hindu College (Nationally Accredited with “A”
Grade), Changanacherry 686102, Kerala, India
- Chemical
Sciences and Technology Division, National
Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST-CSIR), Thiruvananthapuram 695019, Kerala, India
| | - Madhavan Shanthil
- Department
of Chemistry, Government Victoria College, Research Center under University of Calicut, Palakkad 678001, Kerala, India
| | - Kulangara Sandeep
- Department
of Chemistry, Government Victoria College, Research Center under University of Calicut, Palakkad 678001, Kerala, India
| | - Kadencheeri Unnikrishnan Savitha
- Department
of Chemistry (Research Center under MG University, Kerala), NSS Hindu College (Nationally Accredited with “A”
Grade), Changanacherry 686102, Kerala, India
| | - Aravind Archana
- Aravind
Archana—Saveetha School of Engineering SIMATS, Chennai 602105, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Varghese Deepamol
- PG
Department of Chemistry, Alphonsa College, Pala 686 574, Kerala, India
| | - Chengat Swetha
- Department
of Chemistry, St. Thomas College, Ranni 689673, Kerala, India
| | - Pushpalatha Vijayakumar Vaishag
- Department
of Chemistry, Government Victoria College, Research Center under University of Calicut, Palakkad 678001, Kerala, India
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31
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Guerrero S, Schneider L. The global roots of pre-1900 legacy mercury. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304059120. [PMID: 37487071 PMCID: PMC10400983 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304059120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
During the nineteenth century, a major change took place in the trade, production, and use of mercury that altered its nearly exclusive link to silver refining in the Hispanic New World. We track the global expansion of mercury markets in chronological detail from 1511 to 1900 using historical archives on production and trade, a detailed country-by-country accounting of the pool of anthropogenic mercury from which legacy mercury was ultimately generated. The nature and profile of pre-1900 legacy mercury extends beyond silver refining, mercury production, and gold extraction, and includes alternate sources (vermilion, felt, mercury fulminate) and new regions that were not major silver or gold producers (China, India, United Kingdom, France, among others), that accounted for approximately 50% of total mercury consumed in the nineteenth century. The nature of the pre-1900 mercury market requires a quantitative distinction between legacy mercury and historic anthropogenic mercury production and use, since the chemistry of its end-uses determines the pathways and timelines for its incorporation into the global biogeochemical cycle. We thus introduce the concept of a mercury source pool to account for total historic anthropogenic mercury within and outside this cycle. Together with a critical review of previous assumptions used to reconstruct the historical use and loss of mercury, a much lower level of emissions of pre-1900 legacy mercury is proposed. A coordinated effort across disciplines is needed, to complete a historically accurate scenario that can guide the multilateral policies adopted under the United Nations Minamata Convention to control mercury in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saul Guerrero
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT2601, Australia
| | - Larissa Schneider
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT2601, Australia
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32
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Bai Z, Zhang Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Wang M. Nanoplastics pose a greater effect than microplastics in enhancing mercury toxicity to marine copepods. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 325:138371. [PMID: 36906006 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138371] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to human activities, high abundances of nano/microplastics (N/MPs) concurrent with metal pollution have become a serious problem in the global marine environment. Because of displaying a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, N/MPs can serve as the carriers of metals and thus increase their accumulation/toxicity in marine biota. As one of the most toxic metals, mercury (Hg) causes adverse effects on marine organisms but whether environmentally relevant N/MPs can play a vector role of this metal in marine biota, as well as their interaction, is poorly known. To evaluate the vector role of N/MPs in Hg toxicity, we first performed the adsorption kinetics and isotherms of N/MPs and Hg in seawater, as well as ingestion/egestion of N/MPs by marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus, and second, the copepod T. japonicus was exposed to polystyrene (PS) N/MPs (500-nm, 6-μm) and Hg in isolation, combined, and incubated forms at environmentally relevant concentrations for 48 h. Also, the physiological and defense performance including antioxidant response, detoxification/stress, energy metabolism, and development-related genes were assessed after exposure. The results indicated N/MPs significantly increased Hg accumulation and thus its toxicity effects in T. japonicus as exemplified by decreased transcription of genes related to development and energy metabolism and increased transcriptional levels of genes functioning in antioxidant and detoxification/stress defense. More importantly, NPs were superimposed onto MPs and produced the most vector effect in Hg toxicity to T. japonicus, especially in the incubated forms. Overall, this study highlighted the role of N/MPs as a potential risk factor for increasing the adverse effects of Hg pollution, and emphasized the adsorption forms of contaminants by N/MPs should doubly be considered in the continuing researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoan Bai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Luman Cheng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhou
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Minghua Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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Sun R, Cao F, Dai S, Shan B, Qi C, Xu Z, Li P, Liu Y, Zheng W, Chen J. Atmospheric Mercury Isotope Shifts in Response to Mercury Emissions from Underground Coal Fires. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37167064 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Pollutant emissions from coal fires have caused serious concerns in major coal-producing countries. Great efforts have been devoted to suppressing them in China, notably at the notorious Wuda Coalfield in Inner Mongolia. Recent surveys revealed that while fires in this coalfield have been nearly extinguished near the surface, they persist underground. However, the impacts of Hg volatilized from underground coal fires remain unclear. Here, we measured concentrations and isotope compositions of atmospheric Hg in both gaseous and particulate phases at an urban site near the Wuda Coalfield. The atmospheric Hg displayed strong seasonality in terms of both Hg concentrations (5-7-fold higher in fall than in winter) and isotope compositions. Combining characteristic isotope compositions of potential Hg sources and air mass trajectories, we conclude that underground coal fires were still emitting large amounts of Hg into the atmosphere that have been transported to the adjacent urban area in the prevailing downwind direction. The other local anthropogenic Hg emissions were only evident in the urban atmosphere when the arriving air masses did not pass directly through the coalfield. Our study demonstrates that atmospheric Hg isotope measurement is a useful tool for detecting concealed underground coal fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Fei Cao
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shifeng Dai
- College of Geoscience and Survey Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Bing Shan
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Cuicui Qi
- Anhui Academy of Eco-environmental Science Research, Hefei 230071, China
| | - Zhanjie Xu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wang Zheng
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Liu X, Wang Y, Li Z, Song Y, Li Y, Yin Y, Cai Y. Riverine input of suspended particulate matter controls distribution, partitioning and transport of mercury and methylmercury in the Yellow River Estuary. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 455:131597. [PMID: 37182462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Riverine mercury (Hg) is the largest global source of Hg in coastal oceans. The Yellow River delivers the majority of Hg to the semi-enclosed Bohai Sea, where Hg contamination adversely affects the surrounding heavily populated provinces in northern China. Mercury distribution patterns in the river-estuary interacting area provides essential information to understand the riverine Hg transport and biogeochemical cycling of Hg in the estuary. Analyzing the spatial distributions of total- (THg) and methyl-Hg (MeHg) in the lower end of Yellow River (∼105 km) and adjacent estuary, we found the dominant role of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in Hg transport, with 99.1% and 86.3% of THg and MeHg being in particulate phase. The SPM dynamics, such as transport, retention, sorting and sedimentation, governs Hg transport with water flow and particle-water partition of Hg. While THg decreased along the water flow to the river mouth with the settlement of particulate THg (about 27.5% onto the riverbed and the rest entering the sea), MeHg and particulate MeHg increased by 110% and 117%, respectively. This study highlights the distinct patterns in THg and MeHg distribution and transport and suggests potential Hg methylation and external MeHg input in the river-estuary mixed zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoquan Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yingjun Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Zheng Li
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yue Song
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yanbin Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States.
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35
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Sonke JE, Angot H, Zhang Y, Poulain A, Björn E, Schartup A. Global change effects on biogeochemical mercury cycling. AMBIO 2023; 52:853-876. [PMID: 36988895 PMCID: PMC10073400 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01855-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Past and present anthropogenic mercury (Hg) release to ecosystems causes neurotoxicity and cardiovascular disease in humans with an estimated economic cost of $117 billion USD annually. Humans are primarily exposed to Hg via the consumption of contaminated freshwater and marine fish. The UNEP Minamata Convention on Hg aims to curb Hg release to the environment and is accompanied by global Hg monitoring efforts to track its success. The biogeochemical Hg cycle is a complex cascade of release, dispersal, transformation and bio-uptake processes that link Hg sources to Hg exposure. Global change interacts with the Hg cycle by impacting the physical, biogeochemical and ecological factors that control these processes. In this review we examine how global change such as biome shifts, deforestation, permafrost thaw or ocean stratification will alter Hg cycling and exposure. Based on past declines in Hg release and environmental levels, we expect that future policy impacts should be distinguishable from global change effects at the regional and global scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen E. Sonke
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, 14 ave Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Hélène Angot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 1025 rue de la piscine, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu China
| | - Alexandre Poulain
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5 Canada
| | - Erik Björn
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Amina Schartup
- Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
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36
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Xing Z, Chang R, Song Z, Zhang Y, Muntean M, Feng K, Liu Y, Ma Z, Wang J, Zhang J, Wang H. International trade shapes global mercury-related health impacts. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad128. [PMID: 37228509 PMCID: PMC10205471 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a strong neurotoxin with substantial dangers to human health. Hg undergoes active global cycles, and the emission sources there of can also be geographically relocated through economic trade. Through investigation of a longer chain of the global biogeochemical Hg cycle from economic production to human health, international cooperation on Hg control strategies in Minamata Convention can be facilitated. In the present study, four global models are combined to investigate the effect of international trade on the relocation of Hg emissions, pollution, exposure, and related human health impacts across the world. The results show that 47% of global Hg emissions are related to commodities consumed outside of the countries where the emissions are produced, which has largely influenced the environmental Hg levels and human exposure thereto across the world. Consequently, international trade is found to enable the whole world to avoid 5.7 × 105 points for intelligence quotient (IQ) decline and 1,197 deaths from fatal heart attacks, saving a total of $12.5 billion (2020 USD) in economic loss. Regionally, international trade exacerbates Hg challenges in less developed countries, while resulting in an alleviation in developed countries. The change in economic loss therefore varies from the United States (-$4.0 billion) and Japan (-$2.4 billion) to China (+$2.7 billion). The present results reveal that international trade is a critical factor but might be largely overlooked in global Hg pollution mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhengcheng Song
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: ;
| | - Marilena Muntean
- Directorate for Energy, Transport and Climate, Air and Climate Unit, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, VA I-21027, Italy
| | - Kuishuang Feng
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Yifan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zongwei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jigan Wang
- School of Business, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Business, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Haikun Wang
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: ;
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Johnson JM, Bock SL, Smaga CR, Lambert MR, Rainwater TR, Wilkinson PM, Parrott BB. Relationships between maternally-transferred mercury and hatchling development, behavior, and survival in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:162010. [PMID: 36739038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic and pervasive environmental contaminant that can be transferred from mother to offspring during development. Consequences of maternally-transferred mercury have been observed in vertebrate taxa, including reduced clutch viability, reduced offspring size, and behavioral alterations. These sublethal effects have been assumed to decrease survivorship, though this is seldom assessed. Here, we examined how maternally-transferred mercury interacts with incubation temperature to influence reproductive success, offspring behavior, and subsequent survival in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). We collected nine clutches of eggs from a mercury contaminated reservoir on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and incubated eggs at either female- or male-promoting temperatures. Clutch-averaged mercury in egg yolk was high relative to other studies in crocodilians and ranged from 0.248 to 0.554 ppm compared to 0.018-0.052 ppm at a site with low levels of mercury contamination; mercury levels in hatchling blood ranged from 0.090 to 0.490 ppm (x¯ = 0.240 ppm, n = 158). We found few, mostly negligible correlations between life history traits and mercury but noted a positive relationship with egg mass, possibly mediated by correlated maternal effects such as resource provisioning. Incubation temperature exerted strong effects on hatchling phenotypes, with warmer, male-promoting temperatures producing larger and bolder hatchlings. Presumptive females, produced from cooler incubation temperatures, spent more time in warm areas during behavior trials. Hatchlings were released 10-15 days post-hatch and surveyed over eight months to assess survival. Survivorship was positively correlated with hatchling size and negatively correlated with proportional time spent in warm areas. Presumptive females had much lower survival, and overall survivorship for the eight-month period was 0.185-0.208, depending on the modelling approach. Our study suggests that, within the range of concentrations we observed, incubation temperature has a stronger effect on offspring behavior and survival than maternally-transferred mercury pollution in American alligators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah M Johnson
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Samantha L Bock
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Christopher R Smaga
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Max R Lambert
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Thomas R Rainwater
- Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC 29442, United States; Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, Georgetown, SC 29440, United States
| | | | - Benjamin B Parrott
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
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38
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Peterson SH, Ackerman JT, Holser RR, McDonald BI, Costa DP, Crocker DE. Mercury Bioaccumulation and Cortisol Interact to Influence Endocrine and Immune Biomarkers in a Free-Ranging Marine Mammal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:5678-5692. [PMID: 36996077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mercury bioaccumulation from deep-ocean prey and the extreme life history strategies of adult female northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) provide a unique system to assess the interactive effects of mercury and stress on animal health by quantifying blood biomarkers in relation to mercury (skeletal muscle and blood mercury) and cortisol concentrations. The thyroid hormone thyroxine (tT4) and the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) were associated with mercury and cortisol concentrations interactively, where the magnitude and direction of the association of each biomarker with mercury or cortisol changed depending on the concentration of the other factor. For example, when cortisol concentrations were lowest, tT4 was positively related to muscle mercury, whereas tT4 had a negative relationship with muscle mercury in seals that had the highest cortisol concentrations. Additionally, we observed that two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (tT3) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), were negatively (tT3) and positively (rT3) associated with mercury concentrations and cortisol in an additive manner. As an example, tT3 concentrations in late breeding seals at the median cortisol concentration decreased by 14% across the range of observed muscle mercury concentrations. We also observed that immunoglobulin M (IgM), the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 (IL-6), and a reproductive hormone, estradiol, were negatively related to muscle mercury concentrations but were not related to cortisol. Specifically, estradiol concentrations in late molting seals decreased by 50% across the range of muscle mercury concentrations. These results indicate important physiological effects of mercury on free-ranging apex marine predators and interactions between mercury bioaccumulation and extrinsic stressors. Deleterious effects on animals' abilities to maintain homeostasis (thyroid hormones), fight off pathogens and disease (innate and adaptive immune system), and successfully reproduce (endocrine system) can have significant individual- and population-level consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Peterson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California 95620, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California 95620, United States of America
| | - Rachel R Holser
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
| | - Birgitte I McDonald
- Moss Landing Marine Labs, San Jose State University, Moss Landing, California 95039, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
| | - Daniel E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California 94928, United States of America
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Yang H, Macario-González L, Cohuo S, Whitmore TJ, Salgado J, Peréz L, Schwalb A, Rose NL, Holmes J, Riedinger-Whitmore MA, Hoelzmann P, O’Dea A. Mercury Pollution History in Tropical and Subtropical American Lakes: Multiple Impacts and the Possible Relationship with Climate Change. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:3680-3690. [PMID: 36802450 PMCID: PMC9996825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sediment cores obtained from 11 tropical and subtropical American lakes revealed that local human activities significantly increased mercury (Hg) inputs and pollution levels. Remote lakes also have been contaminated by anthropogenic Hg through atmospheric depositions. Long-term sediment-core profiles revealed an approximately 3-fold increase in Hg fluxes to sediments from c. 1850 to 2000. Generalized additive models indicate that c. 3-fold increases in Hg fluxes also occurred since 2000 in the remote sites, while Hg emissions from anthropogenic sources have remained relatively stable. The tropical and subtropical Americas are vulnerable to extreme weather events. Air temperatures in this region have shown a marked increase since the 1990s, and extreme weather events arising from climate change have increased. When comparing Hg fluxes to recent (1950-2016) climatic changes, results show marked increases in Hg fluxes to sediments during dry periods. The Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) time series indicate a tendency toward more extreme drier conditions across the study region since the mid-1990s, suggesting that instabilities in catchment surfaces caused by climate change are responsible for the elevated Hg flux rates. Drier conditions since c. 2000 appear to be promoting Hg fluxes from catchments to lakes, a process that will likely be exacerbated under future climate-change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Handong Yang
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
| | - Laura Macario-González
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
- Tecnológico
Nacional de México−I. T. de la Zona Maya, Carretera Chetumal-Escárcega
Km 21.5, Ejido Juan Sarabia, 77965 Juan Sarabia, Quintana
Roo, Mexico
| | - Sergio Cohuo
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
- Tecnológico
Nacional de México−I. T. Chetumal, Av. Insurgentes 330, Chetumal 77013, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Thomas J. Whitmore
- University
of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, United States
| | - Jorge Salgado
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
- Programa
de Ingeniería Civil, Grupo de Infraestructura y Desarrollo
Sostenible, Universidad Católica
de Colombia, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
- School
of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Liseth Peréz
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Antje Schwalb
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Neil L. Rose
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
| | - Jonathan Holmes
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
| | | | - Philipp Hoelzmann
- Institut
für Geographische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteser Strasse 74-100, D-12249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Aaron O’Dea
- Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa 0843-03092, Panama
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Yuan CS, Chiang KC, Yen PH, Ceng JH, Lee CE, Du IC, Soong KY, Jeng MS. Long-range transport of atmospheric speciated mercury from the eastern waters of Taiwan Island to northern South China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 318:120899. [PMID: 36565910 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the temporospatial distribution, gas-particle partition, and pollution sources of atmospheric speciated mercury (ASM) from the eastern offshore waters of the Taiwan Island (TI) to the northern South China Sea (SCS). Both gaseous and particulate mercury were simultaneously sampled at three remote sites in four seasons. The average concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), and particulate bound mercury (PBM) were 2.05 ± 0.45 ng/m3, 19.17 ± 5.39 pg/m3, and 0.11 ± 0.06 ng/m3, respectively. The concentrations of GEM and PBM in the cold seasons were higher than those in the warm seasons, but those of GOM had an opposite trend. In terms of gas-solid partition, ASM was apportioned as 91.3-97.3% of GEM and 2.7-8.7% of GOM and PBM. The average concentrations of GEM, GOM, and PBM at the Green Island (GI) were 2.21 ± 0.47 ng/m3, 22.31 ± 5.35 pg/m3, and 0.12 ± 0.06 ng/m3; those at the Kenting Peninsula (KT) were 2.11 ± 0.43 ng/m3, 20.57 ± 4.38 pg/m3, and 0.11 ± 0.06 ng/m3; and those at the Dongsha Islands (DS) were 1.84 ± 0.40 ng/m3, 15.19 ± 3.58 pg/m3, and 0.08 ± 0.05 ng/m3, respectively. Overall, the spatial distribution of ASM concentrations showed the order as: GI > KT > DS. Air masses blown mainly from the West Pacific Ocean (WPO) and SCS in summer showed the lowest ASM concentrations. Oppositely, high ASM concentrations were commonly observed in spring and winter when polluted air masses were blown by Asian Northeastern Monsoons (ANMs). The transport routes of polluted air masses were originated mainly from North China, Central China, Northeast China, Korea and Japan, and mostly passed through the urban and industrial regions in the northeastern Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Shin Yuan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC; Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Kuan-Chen Chiang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Po-Hsuan Yen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jun-Hao Ceng
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cheng-En Lee
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - I-Chieh Du
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ker-Yea Soong
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Shiou Jeng
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Green Island Marine Research Station, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia. Sinica, Green Island, Taitung County, Taiwan, ROC
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Bai X, Tian H, Zhu C, Luo L, Hao Y, Liu S, Guo Z, Lv Y, Chen D, Chu B, Wang S, Hao J. Present Knowledge and Future Perspectives of Atmospheric Emission Inventories of Toxic Trace Elements: A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1551-1567. [PMID: 36661479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Toxic trace elements (TEs) can pose serious risks to ecosystems and human health. However, a comprehensive understanding of atmospheric emission inventories for several concerning TEs has not yet been developed. In this study, we systematically reviewed the status and progress of existing research in developing atmospheric emission inventories of TEs focusing on global, regional, and sectoral scales. Multiple studies have strengthened our understanding of the global emission of TEs, despite attention being mainly focused on Hg and source classification in different studies showing large discrepancies. In contrast to those of developed countries and regions, the officially published emission inventory is still lacking in developing countries, despite the fact that studies on evaluating the emissions of TEs on a national scale or one specific source category have been numerous in recent years. Additionally, emissions of TEs emitted from waste incineration and traffic-related sources have produced growing concern with worldwide rapid urbanization. Although several studies attempt to estimate the emissions of TEs based on PM emissions and its source-specific chemical profiles, the emission factor approach is still the universal method. We call for more extensive and in-depth studies to establish a precise localization national emission inventory of TEs based on adequate field measurements and comprehensive investigation to reduce uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Bai
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Hezhong Tian
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Chuanyong Zhu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Lining Luo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yan Hao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shuhan Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhihui Guo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yunqian Lv
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dongxue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Biwu Chu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jiming Hao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100875, China
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Cui L, Gao X, Wang Y, Zhang H, Lv X, Lei K. Salinity-dependent aquatic life criteria of inorganic mercury in coastal water and its ecological risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 217:114957. [PMID: 36457239 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic pollutants to aquatic organisms. The influence of salinity on Hg toxicity, an important factor restricting the development of global marine aquatic life criteria (ALC), is unclear. Therefore, mercury toxicity data were corrected based on salinity using the aggregate slope method, and the ALC values were derived. Short-term aquatic life criteria (SALC) and long-term aquatic life criteria (LALC) were derived using the species sensitivity distribution method based on Log-logistic, Log-normal, Burr III, Gumbel, and Weibull models. The hazard quotient (HQ) and joint probability curve (JPC) methods were used to evaluate the ecological risk of Hg in the coastal waters of China. The results showed that the SALC and LALC of Hg in the coastal waters of China were 2.21 and 0.54 μg/L. The toxicity data and salinity were positively correlated for Chordate and Arthropoda and negatively correlated for Mollusca. The SALC values increased by approximately 75%, with salinities ranging from 10 to 20 ppt. A slight peak in the SALC at mid-salinities was also observed. The ecological risk assessment of Hg in China's coastal waters showed that attention should be paid to Hg pollution in the Bohai Sea and East China Sea, especially the ecological risk of Hg to crustacean organisms. This study could promote the development of water quality criteria for coastal waters and provide a technical reference for mercury management in the coastal waters of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Cui
- Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiangyun Gao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xubo Lv
- Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Kun Lei
- Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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43
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Potentially toxic elements in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:655. [PMID: 36635465 PMCID: PMC9837144 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27169-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Potentially toxic elements such as lead and aluminium have been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), since their neurotoxic mechanisms mimic many of the pathogenetic processes in MS. We therefore examined the distribution of several potentially toxic elements in the autopsied brains of people with and without MS, using two methods of elemental bio-imaging. Toxicants detected in the locus ceruleus were used as indicators of past exposures. Autometallography of paraffin sections from multiple brain regions of 21 MS patients and 109 controls detected inorganic mercury, silver, or bismuth in many locus ceruleus neurons of both groups, and in widespread blood vessels, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and neurons of four MS patients and one control. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry imaging of pons paraffin sections from all MS patients and 12 controls showed that combinations of iron, silver, lead, aluminium, mercury, nickel, and bismuth were present more often in the locus ceruleus of MS patients and were located predominantly in white matter tracts. Based on these results, we propose that metal toxicants in locus ceruleus neurons weaken the blood-brain barrier, enabling multiple interacting toxicants to pass through blood vessels and enter astrocytes and oligodendroglia, leading to demyelination.
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Du X, Li C, Zhang J, Zhu Y, Liang C, Huang L, Yang K, Yao C, Ma Y. Tunning active oxygen species for boosting Hg 0 removal and SO 2-resistance of Mn-Fe oxides supported on (NH 4) 2S 2O 8 doping activated coke. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 441:129882. [PMID: 36087532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129882] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Active oxygen species (AOS) play an essential role in modulating the activity of activated coke (AC) based samples. In this paper, AC was endowed with abundant AOS by modifying with (NH4)2S2O8 and MnOx-FeOx for Hg0 removal. (NH4)2S2O8 treatment induced abundant micropores and oxygen-containing functional groups, and thus provided more anchoring sites for the dispersion of MnOx-FeOx. The synergy of MnOx-FeOx and interaction between MnOx-FeOx and NAC support contributed to a larger surface area, highly-dispersed active components, stronger reducibility, and more metal ions with high valence of MnFe/NAC. The optimal MnFe/NAC exhibited superior Hg0 removal efficiency above 90% at 120∼180 ℃, as well as excellent performance for simultaneous removal of Hg0 and NO, and 600 ppm SO2 and 8 vol.% H2O addition led to a slight deterioration. XPS and Hg-TPD revealed that mercury adsorbed on MnFe/NAC included phy-Hg, C=O-Hg, COO-Hg, and OL-HgO. Besides, the priority of AOS for Hg0 chemisorption was C=O > COO- > OL, and Hg2+ was also detected in the outlet. Moreover, the SO2-poisoning effect was ascribed to the sulfation of MnOx and the occupation of COO- and C=O, and FeOx incorporation enhanced the SO2-resistance through weakening SO2 adsorption on C=O and COO-. The motivation of O2 mainly contributed to the regeneration of AOS, especially OL. The excellent regeneration performance and stability further affirmed the application potential of MnFe/NAC for Hg0 capture from coal-fired flue gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyu Du
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Caiting Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Youcai Zhu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Caixia Liang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Le Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Kuang Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Chaoliang Yao
- Yonker Environmental Protection Co., Ltd, Changsha 410330, PR China
| | - Ying Ma
- Yonker Environmental Protection Co., Ltd, Changsha 410330, PR China
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Mate N, Pranav, Nabeela K, Kaur N, Mobin SM. Insight into the Modulation of Carbon-Dot Optical Sensing Attributes through a Reduction Pathway. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:43759-43769. [PMID: 36506169 PMCID: PMC9730317 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Oxidized/reduced carbon dots (CDs) with tunable optical features have emerged as a new class of CDs having a common "molecular origin" but different fluorescence (FL) behaviors. In the present work, using "banana peel" as a sole carbon source followed by doping with fluorine (F), boron (B), and nitrogen (N) over CDs, banana peel-derived carbon dots (BP-CDs) were synthesized using a well-known hydrothermal synthesis method. Moreover, as-synthesized BP-CDs were further reduced to "rBP-CDs" by NaBH4. At post reduction, the FL performance (i.e., quantum yield) of rBP-CDs were found to be enhanced compared with the BP-CDs, along with variations in excitation and emission wavelengths. Interestingly, the optical sensing attributes of BP-CDs and rBP-CDs were varied, that is, BP-CDs selectively sense "Co2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 180 nM", whereas rBP-CDs detected Co2+ (with an LOD value of 242 nM) as well as Hg2+ (with an LOD value of 190 nM). To the best of our knowledge, this work presents the very first report on the modulation of CDs' sensing behavior after reduction. The modulation in the sensing behavior with the common carbon precursor and reduction paves a new possibility for exploring CDs for different commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmiti Mate
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology
Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
| | - Pranav
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology
Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
| | - Kallayi Nabeela
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology
Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
| | - Navpreet Kaur
- Department
of Biosciences and Bio-Medical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
| | - Shaikh M. Mobin
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology
Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
- Department
of Biosciences and Bio-Medical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
- Centre
for Advanced Electronics (CAE), Indian Institute
of Technology Indore, Simrol, Khandwa Road, Indore453552, India
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Sedak M, Bilandžić N, Đokić M, Đuras M, Gomerčić T, Benić M. Body burdens and distribution of mercury and selenium in bottlenose, striped and Risso's dolphins along the Adriatic coast: A 20-year retrospective. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114298. [PMID: 36356340 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Top marine predators present high mercury concentrations in their tissues due to biomagnification in the marine food chain. This study reports mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) status, and the Hg:Se molar ratio assessment in bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). Total Hg and Se concentrations were determined in muscle, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, adipose tissue and skin collected from 186 specimens stranded in the Croatian part of Adriatic Sea from 1995 to 2014. Total Hg concentrations in tissue samples ranged from 0.001 in the spleen to 2238 mg/kg wet weight in liver. Se concentrations in dolphin samples ranged from 0.010 to 2916 mg/kg ww. Minimum Se concentration was found in muscle and maximum Se concentration were found in liver of bottlenose dolphin. Hg and Se levels in Risso's dolphins showed higher concentrations in all tissues in comparison to bottlenose and striped dolphins. Significant and positive correlations were observed between age and Hg concentrations (P < 0.05). In 66.6 % of Risso's, 15.3 % of bottlenose dolphins and one stranded striped dolphin in this study, the hepatic concentration of Hg exceeded the higher toxic thresholds (400 mg/kg w.w.) previously defined as evidence of liver damage in marine mammals. The Hg:Se molar ratio in the liver of Risso's dolphin was 0.670. The liver of adult bottlenose dolphins showed expected values (0.870), while the liver of young dolphins had a high ratio (0.750), non-specific for the age group. The Hg:Se molar ratio in the liver of striped dolphins was 0.390, which is lower than the literature values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Sedak
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Laboratory for Residue Control, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Nina Bilandžić
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Laboratory for Residue Control, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Đokić
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Laboratory for Residue Control, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Martina Đuras
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Gomerčić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Miroslav Benić
- Laboratory for Mastitis and Raw Milk Quality, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Rundio DE, Rivera R, Weiss-Penzias PS. High mercury concentrations in steelhead/rainbow trout, sculpin, and terrestrial invertebrates in a stream-riparian food web in coastal California. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:1506-1519. [PMID: 36449122 PMCID: PMC9709357 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02608-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Stream and riparian food webs are connected by cross-habitat exchanges of invertebrate prey that can transfer contaminants including mercury. Marine fog has been identified as a source of methylmercury (MeHg) to some terrestrial food webs in coastal California, suggesting that terrestrial invertebrates might have elevated MeHg relative to stream invertebrates and might lead to higher mercury exposure in fish that consume terrestrial subsidies. As an initial step to examine this possibility, we analyzed mercury concentrations in terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and two fish species, steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and coastrange sculpin (Cottus aleuticus), in a small watershed. Mean MeHg and total mercury (THg) concentrations in terrestrial invertebrates were three to four times higher than in aquatic invertebrates of the same trophic level. MeHg was >1000 ng/g dw in some individual centipede and scorpion samples, and also relatively high (100-300 ng/g dw) in some terrestrial detritivores, including non-native isopods. Mean THg in age 0 trout was 400 ng/g dw compared to 1200-1300 ng/g dw in age 1+ trout and sculpin, and the largest trout sampled had THg >3500 ng/g dw. However, the similar mercury concentrations between age 1+ trout and sculpin, despite different diet types, indicated that Hg concentrations in fish were not related simply to differences in consumption of terrestrial invertebrates. The high mercury concentrations we found in terrestrial invertebrates and fish suggest that further research on the sources and bioaccumulation of mercury is warranted in this region where O. mykiss populations are threatened.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Rundio
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 110 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
| | - Roberto Rivera
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 544 Engineering Tower, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Peter S Weiss-Penzias
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
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Integrative Metallomics Studies of Toxic Metal(loid) Substances at the Blood Plasma–Red Blood Cell–Organ/Tumor Nexus. INORGANICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/inorganics10110200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, an estimated 9 million deaths per year are caused by human exposure to environmental pollutants, including toxic metal(loid) species. Since pollution is underestimated in calculations of the global burden of disease, the actual number of pollution-related deaths per year is likely to be substantially greater. Conversely, anticancer metallodrugs are deliberately administered to cancer patients, but their often dose-limiting severe adverse side-effects necessitate the urgent development of more effective metallodrugs that offer fewer off-target effects. What these seemingly unrelated events have in common is our limited understanding of what happens when each of these toxic metal(loid) substances enter the human bloodstream. However, the bioinorganic chemistry that unfolds at the plasma/red blood cell interface is directly implicated in mediating organ/tumor damage and, therefore, is of immediate toxicological and pharmacological relevance. This perspective will provide a brief synopsis of the bioinorganic chemistry of AsIII, Cd2+, Hg2+, CH3Hg+ and the anticancer metallodrug cisplatin in the bloodstream. Probing these processes at near-physiological conditions and integrating the results with biochemical events within organs and/or tumors has the potential to causally link chronic human exposure to toxic metal(loid) species with disease etiology and to translate more novel anticancer metal complexes to clinical studies, which will significantly improve human health in the 21st century.
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49
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Taylor VF, Landis JD, Janssen SE. Tracing the sources and depositional history of mercury to coastal northeastern U.S. lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1805-1820. [PMID: 36065894 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00214k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) deposition was reconstructed in sediment cores from lakes in two coastal U.S. National Parks: Acadia National Park (ANP) and Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), to fill an important spatial gap in Hg deposition records and to explore changing sources of Hg and processes affecting Hg accumulation in these coastal sites. Recent Hg deposition chronology was assessed using (1) a newly developed lead-210 (210Pb) based sediment age model which employs 7Be to constrain deposition and sediment mixing of 210Pb-excess, (2) coinciding Pb flux and isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb), and (3) Hg isotope ratios and their response to changes in Hg flux. At both sites, Hg flux increased substantially from pre-1850 levels, with accumulation in ANP peaking in the 1970s, whereas in CCNS, Hg levels were highest in recent sediments. Negative values of δ202Hg and Δ199Hg indicated terrestrially-derived Hg was a major constituent of Hg flux to Sargent Mountain Pond, ANP, although recent decreases in Hg flux were in agreement with precipitation Hg records, indicating a rapid watershed response. By contrast, δ202Hg and Δ199Hg profiles in Long Pond, CNNS reflect direct Hg deposition, but disturbances in the sedimentary record were indicated by bomb fallout radionuclide inventories and by peaks in both Pb and Hg isotope depth profiles. These cores provided poor reconstructions of atmospheric deposition and reveal responses that are decoupled from emissions reduction due to complex post-depositional redistribution of atmospheric metals including Hg. The application of multiple tracers of Hg deposition provide insight into the sources and pathways governing Hg accumulation in these lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien F Taylor
- Department of Earth Science, 6105 Fairchild Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Joshua D Landis
- Department of Earth Science, 6105 Fairchild Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Sarah E Janssen
- U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mercury Research Lab, 1 Gifford Pinchot Dr, Madison, WI 53726, USA
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50
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Guo Z, Bai X, Liu S, Luo L, Hao Y, Lv Y, Xiao Y, Yang J, Tian H. Heterogeneous Variations on Historical and Future Trends of CO 2 and Multiple Air Pollutants from the Cement Production Process in China: Emission Inventory, Spatial-Temporal Characteristics, and Scenario Projections. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14306-14314. [PMID: 36172692 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cement production is a major contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) and multiple hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, threatening climate mitigation and urban/regional air quality improvement. In this study, we established a comprehensive emission inventory by coupling the unit-based bottom-up and mass balance methods, revealing that emissions of most HAPs have been remarkably controlled. However, an increasing 6.0% of atmospheric mercury emissions, as well as 14.1 and 23.7% of fuel-related and process-related CO2 emission growth were witnessed unexpectedly. Industrial adjustment policies have imposed a great impact on the spatiotemporal changes in emission characteristics. Monthly emissions of CO2 and multiple HAPs decreased from December to February due to the "staggered peak production," especially in northern China after implementing the intensified action plan for air pollution control in winter. Upgrading environmental technologies and adjusting capacity structures are identified as dominant driving forces for reducing HAP emissions. Besides, energy intensity improvement can help offset some of the impact caused by the increase in clinker/cement production. Furthermore, scenario analysis results show that ultra-low emission and low-carbon technology transformation constitute the keys to achieve the synergic reduction of CO2 and multiple HAP emissions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Guo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Bai
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shuhan Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lining Luo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yan Hao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yunqian Lv
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yifei Xiao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Junqi Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Hezhong Tian
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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