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Zhang L, Gao S, Song Y, Chen H, Wang L, Zhao Y, Cui J, Tang W. Trophic transfer of antibiotics in the benthic-pelagic coupling foodweb in a macrophyte-dominated shallow lake: The importance of pelagic-benthic coupling strength and baseline organism. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134171. [PMID: 38569339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
In lake ecosystems, pelagic-benthic coupling strength (PBCS) is closely related to foodweb structure and pollutant transport. However, the trophic transfer of antibiotics in a benthic-pelagic coupling foodweb (BPCFW) and the manner in which PBCS influences the trophic magnification factor (TMFs) of antibiotics is still not well understood in the whole lake. Herein, the trophic transfer behavior of 12 quinolone antibiotics (QNs) in the BPCFW of Baiyangdian Lake were studied during the period of 2018-2019. It was revealed that 24 dominant species were contained in the BPCFW, and the trophic level was 0.42-2.94. Seven QNs were detected in organisms, the detection frequencies of ofloxacin (OFL), flumequine (FLU), norfloxacin (NOR), and enrofloxacin (ENR) were higher than other QNs. The ∑QN concentration in all species was 11.3-321 ng/g dw. The TMFs for ENR and NOR were trophic magnification, while for FLU/OFL it was trophic dilution. The PBCS showed spatial-temporal variation, with a range of 0.6977-0.7910. The TMFs of ENR, FLU, and OFL were significantly positively correlated with PBCS. Phytoplankton and macrophyte biomasses showed indirect impact on the TMFs of QNs by directly influencing the PBCS. Therefore, the PBCS was the direct influencing factor for the TMFs of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Zhang
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050000 Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Sai Gao
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050000 Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuanmeng Song
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050000 Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Haoda Chen
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050000 Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Linjing Wang
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050000 Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, 100085 Beijing, China.
| | - Jiansheng Cui
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050000 Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Wenzhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, 100085 Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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2
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Rogers J, Bradford MA, O'Driscoll NJ. Coastal Mussel (Mytilus spp.) Soft Tissues as Bioindicators of Methylmercury: Exploring the Relationship Between Condition Index and Methylmercury Concentrations. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 112:60. [PMID: 38602538 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-024-03888-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
We investigated total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in coastal mussels (Mytilus spp.) sampled from the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy and evaluated the relationship with condition index (CI). THg concentrations were low in sediment (mean THg = 5.15 ± 2.11 ng/g dw; n = 6) and soft tissues (mean THg = 62.3 ± 13.7 ng/g; mean MeHg = 13.2 ± 6.3 ng/g; n = 57). The THg in tissues had no significant relationship with CI (Rs= -0.205, p = 0.126). MeHg in tissues were significantly and negatively correlated with condition index (Rs = -0.361, p = 0.006) indicating that healthier mussels (higher CI) have lower mercury content possibly due to elimination strategies or growth dilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie Rogers
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Molly A Bradford
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville Nova Scotia, Canada
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3
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Nelson SJ, Willacker J, Eagles-Smith C, Flanagan Pritz C, Chen CY, Klemmer A, Krabbenhoft DP. Habitat and dissolved organic carbon modulate variation in the biogeochemical drivers of mercury bioaccumulation in dragonfly larvae at the national scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169396. [PMID: 38114036 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169396] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
We paired mercury (Hg) concentrations in dragonfly larvae with water chemistry in 29 U.S. national parks to highlight how ecological and biogeochemical context (habitat, dissolved organic carbon [DOC]) influence drivers of Hg bioaccumulation. Although prior studies have defined influences of biogeochemical variables on Hg production and bioaccumulation, it has been challenging to determine their influence across diverse habitats, regions, or biogeochemical conditions within a single study. We compared global (i.e., all sites), habitat-specific, and DOC-class models to illuminate how these controls on biotic Hg vary. Although the suite of important biogeochemical factors across all sites (e.g., aqueous Hg, DOC, sulfate [SO42-], and pH) was consistent with general findings in the literature, contrasting the restricted models revealed more nuanced controls on biosentinel Hg. Comparing habitats, aqueous (filtered) total mercury (THg) and SO42- were important in lentic systems whereas aqueous (filtered) methylmercury (MeHg), DOC, pH, and SO42- were important in lotic and wetland systems. The ability to identify important variables varied among habitats, with less certainty in lentic (model weight (W) = 0.05) than lotic (W = 0.11) or wetland habitats (W = 0.23), suggesting that biogeochemical drivers of bioaccumulation are more variable, or obscured by other aspects of Hg cycling, in these habitats. Results revealed a contrast in the importance of aqueous MeHg versus aqueous THg between DOC-classes: in low-DOC sites (<8.5 mg/L), availability of upstream inputs of MeHg appeared more important for bioaccumulation; in high-DOC sites (>8.5 mg/L) THg was more important, suggesting a link to in-situ controls on bioavailability of Hg for MeHg production. Mercury bioaccumulation (indicated by bioaccumulation factor) was more efficient in low DOC-class sites, likely due to reduced partitioning of aqueous MeHg to DOC. Together, findings highlight substantial variation in the drivers of Hg bioaccumulation and suggest consideration of these factors in natural resource management and decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Nelson
- Appalachian Mountain Club, Gorham, NH 03581, USA; University of Maine, School of Forest Resources, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
| | - James Willacker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - Collin Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - Colleen Flanagan Pritz
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Natural Resource, Stewardship and Science Directorate, Lakewood, CO 80228, USA
| | | | - Amanda Klemmer
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 1 Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53726, USA
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4
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Saidon NB, Szabó R, Budai P, Lehel J. Trophic transfer and biomagnification potential of environmental contaminants (heavy metals) in aquatic ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122815. [PMID: 37898430 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Physical, chemical weathering and volcanic eruptions release heavy metals into soils and surface waters naturally. Contaminants from anthropogenic sources originated from industrial and municipality waste substantially modify and increase their contributions. They are then absorbed by fish gills, amphipod cuticles, and other sensitive organs of aquatic creatures. This article discusses the essences on the determination, potential and plausible factors of trophic transfer and biomagnification of environmental contaminants particularly heavy metals across aquatic ecosystem. In general, arsenic is found to be bio-diminished across food webs in freshwater ecosystem while it biomagnified in marine ecosystem of higher trophic level (tertiary consumer of predatory fish) and dilute its concentration from lower trophic level (from producer to bottom level of consumer, secondary and lastly to tertiary consumer (forage fish)). Early study for Cadmium shown that it has no potential for biomagnification while later studies prove that cadmium does magnify for gastropod and epiphyte-based food webs. Mercury shown obvious biomagnification potential where it can bio-magnify from trophic level as low as particulate organic matter (POM) to higher trophic of fish. These findings proved that aquatic ecosystems must be preserved from contamination not just for human benefit, but also to prevent environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadhirah B Saidon
- Department of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Georgikon Campus, 8360, Keszthely, Hungary
| | - Rita Szabó
- Department of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Georgikon Campus, 8360, Keszthely, Hungary
| | - Péter Budai
- Department of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Georgikon Campus, 8360, Keszthely, Hungary.
| | - József Lehel
- Department of Food Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, 1078, Budapest, Hungary; National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, 1078, Budapest, Hungary
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5
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Bradford MA, Mallory ML, O'Driscoll NJ. Ecology and environmental characteristics influence methylmercury bioaccumulation in coastal invertebrates. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140502. [PMID: 37866498 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140502] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying mercury (Hg) concentrations in invertebrates is fundamental to determining risk for bioaccumulation in higher trophic level organisms in coastal food webs. Bioaccumulation is influenced by local mercury concentrations, site geochemistry, individual feeding ecologies, and trophic position. We sampled seven species of invertebrates from five coastal sites in the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, and determined body concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg), total mercury (THg), and stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C). To evaluate the effects of environmental chemistry on Hg production and bioaccumulation, bulk sediments from all sites were analysed for THg, %Loss on ignition (LOI) (carbon), and sulfur isotopes (δ34S), and concentrations of MeHg, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), sulfate, and sulfide were measured in porewaters. The mean concentration of MeHg in tissues for all invertebrates sampled was 10.03 ± 7.04 ng g-1). MeHg in porewater (mean = 0.22-1.59 ng L-1) was the strongest predictor of invertebrate MeHg, but sediment δ34S (-0.80-14.1‰) was also a relatively strong predictor. δ34S in tissues (measured in three species; Corophium volutator, Ilyanassa obsoleta, and Littorina littorea) were positively related to MeHg in invertebrates (r = 0.55, 0.22, and 0.71 respectively), and when used in combination with δ15N and δ13C values improved predictions of Hg concentrations in biota. Hg concentrations in the amphipod Corophium volutator (mean MeHg = 10.60 ± 1.90 ng g-1) were particularly well predicted using porewater and sediment chemistry, highlighting this species as a useful bioindicator of Hg contamination in sediments of the Bay of Fundy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly A Bradford
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Biology Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
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6
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Senila M, Levei EA, Frentiu T, Mihali C, Angyus SB. Assessment of mercury bioavailability in garden soils around a former nonferrous metal mining area using DGT, accumulation in vegetables, and implications for health risk. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1554. [PMID: 38036722 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12144-2] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic, non-essential element for living organisms, frequently present in high concentrations in soils from industrial areas. The total, dissolved, and labile Hg concentrations in garden soils and their accumulation in edible vegetables (onion, garlic, lettuce, and parsley) grown on contaminated soils in localities situated a former mining area were evaluated. The labile Hg fraction was estimated by diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT). The soil-to-vegetable transfer factors, as well as the health risk by exposure to Hg, were calculated based on the labile Hg concentration in soil. The total Hg concentration in soil varied widely (0.11-3.77 mg kg-1), Hg in soil solution ranged between 2.14 and 20.2 μg L-1 and labile Hg between 1.13 and 18.6 μg L-1. About 36-96% (84% on average) of the Hg concentration in soil solution was found in labile form. Multivariate analysis revealed significant correlations between the labile Hg concentration in soil and Hg accumulated in vegetables. The hazard indices showed that, although the study area is affected by legacy pollution, exposure to soil and consumption of locally grown vegetables do not pose health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marin Senila
- INCDO INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Donath 67, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Erika Andrea Levei
- INCDO INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Donath 67, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tiberiu Frentiu
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Arany Janos 11, 400028, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina Mihali
- Faculty of Sciences, Technical University of Cluj Napoca, Baia Mare, Victoriei 76, 430122, Baia-Mare, Romania
| | - Simion Bogdan Angyus
- INCDO INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Donath 67, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Arany Janos 11, 400028, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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7
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Kim D, Won EJ, Cho HE, Lee J, Shin KH. New insight into biomagnification factor of mercury based on food web structure using stable isotopes of amino acids. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120591. [PMID: 37690411 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Although many attempts have been carried out to elaborate trophic magnification factor (TMF) and biomagnification factor (BMF), such as normalizing the concentration of pollutants and averaging diet sources, the uncertainty of the indexes still need to be improved to assess the bioaccumulation of pollutants. This study first suggests an improved BMF (i.e., BMF') applied to mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater fish from four sites before and after rainfall. The diet source and TP of each fish were identified using nitrogen stable isotope of amino acids (δ15NAAs) combined with bulk carbon stable isotope (δ13C). The BMF' was calculated normalizing with TP and diet contributions derived from MixSIAR. The BMF' values (1.3-27.2 and 1.2-27.8), which are representative of the entire food web, were generally higher than TMF (1.5-13.9 and 1.5-14.5) for both total mercury and methyl mercury, respectively. The BMF' implying actual mercury transfer pathway is more reliable index than relatively underestimated TMF for risk assessment. The ecological approach for BMF calculations provides novel insight into the behavior and trophic transfer of pollutants like mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dokyun Kim
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ji Won
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea; Institute of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Eun Cho
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Kyung-Hoon Shin
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Yurkowski DJ, McCulloch E, Ogloff WR, Johnson KF, Amiraux R, Basu N, Elliott KH, Fisk AT, Ferguson SH, Harris LN, Hedges KJ, Jacobs K, Loewen TN, Matthews CJD, Mundy CJ, Niemi A, Rosenberg B, Watt CA, McKinney MA. Mercury accumulation, biomagnification, and relationships to δ 13C, δ 15N and δ 34S of fishes and marine mammals in a coastal Arctic marine food web. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115233. [PMID: 37421916 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115233] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Combining mercury and stable isotope data sets of consumers facilitates the quantification of whether contaminant variation in predators is due to diet, habitat use and/or environmental factors. We investigated inter-species variation in total Hg (THg) concentrations, trophic magnification slope between δ15N and THg, and relationships of THg with δ13C and δ34S in 15 fish and four marine mammal species (249 individuals in total) in coastal Arctic waters. Median THg concentration in muscle varied between species ranging from 0.08 ± 0.04 μg g-1 dw in capelin to 3.10 ± 0.80 μg g-1 dw in beluga whales. Both δ15N (r2 = 0.26) and δ34S (r2 = 0.19) best explained variation in log-THg across consumers. Higher THg concentrations occurred in higher trophic level species that consumed more pelagic-associated prey than consumers that rely on the benthic microbial-based food web. Our study illustrates the importance of using a multi-isotopic approach that includes δ34S when investigating trophic Hg dynamics in coastal marine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Yurkowski
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Elena McCulloch
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Wesley R Ogloff
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kelsey F Johnson
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Rémi Amiraux
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aaron T Fisk
- School of the Environment, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Les N Harris
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kevin J Hedges
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kevin Jacobs
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Tracey N Loewen
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - C J Mundy
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Andrea Niemi
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Bruno Rosenberg
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
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Li Y, Chen F, Zhou R, Zheng X, Pan K, Qiu G, Wu Z, Chen S, Wang D. A review of metal contamination in seagrasses with an emphasis on metal kinetics and detoxification. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 454:131500. [PMID: 37116329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses are important foundation species in coastal ecosystems, and they provide food and habitat that supports high biodiversity. However, seagrasses are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic disturbances such as metal pollution, which has been implicated as a significant factor driving seagrass losses. There have been several reviews synthesizing the metal concentrations in seagrasses and evaluating their utility as biomonitors for metal pollution in the coastal environment at the local scale. However, the interpretation of metal data in seagrass biomonitors requires a more mechanistic understanding of the processes governing metal bioaccumulation and detoxification. In this review, the progress and trends in metal studies in seagrasses between 1973 and 2022 were analyzed to identify frontier topics in this field. In addition, we tried to (1) analyze and assess the current status of metal contamination in seagrasses on a global scale by incorporating more metal data from tropical and Indo-Pacific seagrasses, (2) summarize the geochemical and biological factors governing metal uptake and loss in seagrasses, and (3) provide an up-to-date understanding of metals' effects on seagrasses and their physiological responses to metal challenges. This review improves our understanding of the highly variable metal concentrations observed in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060 Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fengyuan Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060 Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ruojing Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060 Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinqing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ke Pan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060 Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guanglong Qiu
- Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536007, China
| | - Zhongjie Wu
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou 570125, China
| | - Shiquan Chen
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou 570125, China.
| | - Daoru Wang
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou 570125, China.
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10
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Han Y, Jiang Y, Xiong X, Sui X, Zhu R, Feng X, Li K, Jia Y, Chen Y. Mercury biomagnification at higher rates than the global average in aquatic ecosystems of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 453:131408. [PMID: 37080022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Mercury biomagnification in aquatic ecosystems is a global issue. Biomagnification patterns and drivers in alpine regions remain poorly understood. Hg biomagnification in the aquatic food web of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (Q-T Plateau) was investigated. A total of 302 fish and macroinvertebrate tissue samples were analysed for total mercury (THg) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios. Overall, 26.75% of fish individuals exceeded the USFWS consumption guidelines. A total of 52.17% of the sampling sites covering different habitats exhibited a significantly positive THg-δ15N relationship, which confirmed the Hg biomagnification potential of Q-T Plateau aquatic ecosystems. The Q-T Plateau Hg biomagnification rates were generally far higher than global averages regardless of the habitat type. Hg in sediments, elevation and population density were positively related to the Hg biomagnification magnitude on the Q-T Plateau, which could be attributed to the disproportionate response of Hg concentrations in macroinvertebrates and fishes along environmental gradients. Our findings offer empirical evidence that fish consumption on the Q-T Plateau poses a substantial Hg exposure risk to people living along river and lake shores. Higher biomagnification rates could further disproportionately accelerate Hg pollution in Q-T Plateau aquatic ecosystems under future anthropogenic activities and climate warming trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Han
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yihang Jiang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiong Xiong
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiaoyun Sui
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ren Zhu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiu Feng
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kemao Li
- Qinghai Provincial Fishery Technology Extension Center, Xining 810012, China
| | - Yintao Jia
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
| | - Yifeng Chen
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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11
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Wang X, Xie Q, Wang Y, Lü H, Fu M, Wang D, Li J. Hg bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web from tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China and potential consumption advisories. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131902. [PMID: 37364435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) holds the distinction of being China's largest reservoir, and the presence of pollutants in the fish from the reservoir have a direct impact on the health of local residents. Thus, 349 fish specimens of 21 species and 1 benthos (Bellamya aeruginosas) were collected from four typical tributaries of the TGR from 2019 to 2020. These specimens were analyzed for the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg), and some representative samples were tested for δ13C and δ15N values to reveal the characteristics of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The maximum safe daily consumption was estimated based on the oral reference dose (0.1 μg kg-1 bw/day according to US-EPA, 2017). The results showed that the mean THg and MeHg concentrations in fish from the TGR tributaries were 73.18 ± 49.21 ng g-1 and 48.42 ± 40.66 ng g-1, respectively, with the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of THg and MeHg being 0.066 and 0.060, respectively. Among all the fish species in the tributaries, the highest daily maximum safe consumption amount was 1253.89 g for S. asotus consumed by adults, while the lowest was 62.88 g for C. nasus consumed by children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueheng Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qing Xie
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Resources, Environment and Safety, Chongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering, Chongqing 402260, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yongmin Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hongjian Lü
- College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Mei Fu
- College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jiajia Li
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing 400715, China.
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12
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Cusset F, Reynolds SJ, Carravieri A, Amouroux D, Asensio O, Dickey RC, Fort J, Hughes BJ, Paiva VH, Ramos JA, Shearer L, Tessier E, Wearn CP, Cherel Y, Bustamante P. A century of mercury: Ecosystem-wide changes drive increasing contamination of a tropical seabird species in the South Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 323:121187. [PMID: 36736563 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal that adversely impacts human and wildlife health. The amount of Hg released globally in the environment has increased steadily since the Industrial Revolution, resulting in growing contamination in biota. Seabirds have been extensively studied to monitor Hg contamination in the world's oceans. Multidecadal increases in seabird Hg contamination have been documented in polar, temperate and subtropical regions, whereas in tropical regions they are largely unknown. Since seabirds accumulate Hg mainly from their diet, their trophic ecology is fundamental in understanding their Hg exposure over time. Here, we used the sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), the most abundant tropical seabird, as bioindicator of temporal variations in Hg transfer to marine predators in tropical ecosystems, in response to trophic changes and other potential drivers. Body feathers were sampled from 220 sooty terns, from museum specimens (n = 134) and free-living birds (n = 86) from Ascension Island, in the South Atlantic Ocean, over 145 years (1876-2021). Chemical analyses included (i) total- and methyl-Hg, and (ii) carbon (δ1³C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes, as proxies of foraging habitat and trophic position, respectively, to investigate the relationship between trophic ecology and Hg contamination over time. Despite current regulations on its global emissions, mean Hg concentrations were 58.9% higher in the 2020s (2.0 μg g-1, n = 34) than in the 1920s (1.2 μg g-1, n = 107). Feather Hg concentrations were negatively and positively associated with δ1³C and δ15N values, respectively. The sharp decline of 2.9 ‰ in δ1³C values over time indicates ecosystem-wide changes (shifting primary productivity) in the tropical South Atlantic Ocean and can help explain the observed increase in terns' feather Hg concentrations. Overall, this study provides invaluable information on how ecosystem-wide changes can increase Hg contamination of tropical marine predators and reinforces the need for long-term regulations of harmful contaminants at the global scale.
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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 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en Bois, France.
| | - S James Reynolds
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
| | - 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 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en Bois, France
| | - David Amouroux
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et Les Matériaux (IPREM), UMR, 5254, CNRS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France
| | - Océane Asensio
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et Les Matériaux (IPREM), UMR, 5254, CNRS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France
| | - Roger C Dickey
- Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - B John Hughes
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
| | - Vitor H Paiva
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Laura Shearer
- Ascension Island Government Conservation and Fisheries Directorate (AIGCFD), Georgetown, Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean, UK
| | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et Les Matériaux (IPREM), UMR, 5254, CNRS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France
| | - Colin P Wearn
- The Royal Air Force Ornithological Society (RAFOS), High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 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
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13
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Amundsen PA, Henriksson M, Poste A, Prati S, Power M. Ecological Drivers of Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish of a Subarctic Watercourse. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:873-887. [PMID: 36727562 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5580] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a serious concern for aquatic ecosystems because it may biomagnify to harmful concentrations within food webs and consequently end up in humans that eat fish. However, the trophic transfer of mercury through the aquatic food web may be impacted by several factors related to network complexity and the ecology of the species present. The present study addresses the interplay between trophic ecology and mercury contamination in the fish communities of two lakes in a pollution-impacted subarctic watercourse, exploring the role of both horizontal (feeding habitat) and vertical (trophic position) food web characteristics as drivers for the Hg contamination in fish. The lakes are located in the upper and lower parts of the watercourse, with the lower site located closer to, and downstream from, the main pollution source. The lakes have complex fish communities dominated by coregonids (polymorphic whitefish and invasive vendace) and several piscivorous species. Analyses of habitat use, stomach contents, and stable isotope signatures (δ15 N, δ13 C) revealed similar food web structures in the two lakes except for a few differences chiefly related to ecological effects of the invasive vendace. The piscivores had higher Hg concentrations than invertebrate-feeding fish. Concentrations increased with size and age for the piscivores and vendace, whereas habitat differences were of minor importance. Most fish species showed significant differences in Hg concentrations between the lakes, the highest values typically found in the downstream site where the biomagnification rate also was higher. Mercury levels in piscivorous fish included concentrations that exceed health authorization limits, with possible negative implications for fishing and human consumption. Our findings accentuate the importance of acquiring detailed knowledge of the drivers that can magnify Hg concentrations in fish and how these may vary within and among aquatic systems, to provide a scientific basis for adequate management strategies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:873-887. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per-Arne Amundsen
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Matilda Henriksson
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Amanda Poste
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- The Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Framsenteret, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sebastian Prati
- Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty for Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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14
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Bradford MA, Mallory ML, O'Driscoll NJ. Mercury bioaccumulation and speciation in coastal invertebrates: Implications for trophic magnification in a marine food web. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114647. [PMID: 36736254 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Studies on mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in coastal invertebrates in eastern Canada are limited, but these data are necessary to determine risk of mercury exposure effects in upper trophic level organisms. We quantified methylmercury (MeHg), total mercury (THg), and stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N in 14 species of invertebrates in the Minas Basin. The overall mean concentration of MeHg (12.78 ± 11.23 ng/g dw) was approximately 10 times below the Canadian guideline for the protection of wildlife consumers like fish and birds of 157.20 ng/g dry weight (dw). Invertebrates at higher trophic positions (δ15N) had greater THg and particularly MeHg. The Trophic Magnification Factors (TMF) for MeHg and THg (1.59 and 1.21 respectively) were similar to others reported in studies of food webs containing higher trophic level organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly A Bradford
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Biology Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
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15
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Zhu S, Yang C, Chen H, Wang Y, Li J, Zhang R, Yang Y, Zhang C, Wang D. Organic Carbon Controls Mercury Distribution and Storage in the Surface Soils of the Water-Level-Fluctuation Zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3681. [PMID: 36834375 PMCID: PMC9968128 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043681] [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] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The particular condition of the water-level-fluctuation zone (WLFZ) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), the largest hydroelectric reservoir in China, raises great concerns about mercury (Hg) contamination and ecological risk. In addition, previous research found that soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an essential role in controlling Hg distribution and speciation. However, there is minimal information on the Hg storage distribution and their relationships with SOC in the WLFZ in TGR. This study investigated Hg distribution, storage, and their relationships with SOC in the surface soils in WLFZ. The results showed that the total Hg (THg) content in the surface soils ranged from 18.40 to 218.50 ng g-1, with an average value of 78.17 ± 41.92 ng g-1. About 89% of samples had THg content above the background value in Chongqing, showing specific enrichment of Hg in WLFZ due to contamination in the TGR. The surface soils have low SOC, with an average value of 8.10 ± 3.90 g kg-1. Moreover, THg content showed consistent distribution with the SOC in WLFZ, with a significantly positive correlation (R = 0.52, p < 0.01, n = 242). THg storage (201.82 ± 103.46 g ha-1) in the surface soils was also significantly positively correlated with the SOC storage (R = 0.47, p < 0.01, n = 242). The reduced SOC sequestration, due to the periodical alternative "flooding-draining" and frequent reclamation and utilization of WLFZ, decreased the Hg adsorption in soil. Those might result in the re-release of Hg into waters when WLFZ is flooded. Therefore, more attention should be directed towards Hg cycling and the consequent environmental risks in the TGR region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihua Zhu
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Caiyun Yang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yongmin Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Jieqin Li
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ruixi Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
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16
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Moslemi-Aqdam M, Low G, Low M, Laird BD, Branfireun BA, Swanson HK. Estimates, spatial variability, and environmental drivers of mercury biomagnification rates through lake food webs in the Canadian subarctic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 217:114835. [PMID: 36400218 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114835] [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: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biomagnification of mercury (Hg) through lake food webs is understudied in rapidly changing northern regions, where wild-caught subsistence fish are critical to food security. We investigated estimates and among-lake variability of Hg biomagnification rates (BMR), relationships between Hg BMR and Hg levels in subsistence fish, and environmental drivers of Hg BMR in ten remote subarctic lakes in Northwest Territories, Canada. Lake-specific linear regressions between Hg concentrations (total Hg ([THg]) in fish and methyl Hg ([MeHg]) in primary consumers) and baseline-adjusted δ15N ratios were significant (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.58-0.88), indicating biomagnification of Hg through food webs of all studied lakes. Quantified using the slope of Hg-δ15N regressions, Hg BMR ranged from 0.16 to 0.25, with mean ± standard deviation of 0.20 ± 0.03). Using fish [MeHg] rather than [THg] lowered estimates of Hg BMR by ∼10%, suggesting that the use of [THg] as a proxy for [MeHg] in fish can influence estimates of Hg BMR. Among-lake variability of size-standardized [THg] in resident fish species from different trophic guilds, namely Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Northern Pike (Esox lucius), was not significantly explained by among-lake variability in Hg BMR. Stepwise multiple regressions indicated that among-lake variability of Hg BMR was best explained by a positive relationship with catchment forest cover (p = 0.009, r2 = 0.59), likely reflecting effects of forest cover on water chemistry of downstream lakes and ultimately, concentrations of biomagnifying MeHg (and percent MeHg of total Hg) in resident biota. These findings improve our understanding of Hg biomagnification in remote subarctic lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George Low
- Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resources & Oceans Management, Hay River, NT, Canada
| | - Mike Low
- Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resources & Oceans Management, Hay River, NT, Canada
| | - Brian D Laird
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Heidi K Swanson
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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17
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Alowaifeer AM, Clingenpeel S, Kan J, Bigelow PE, Yoshinaga M, Bothner B, McDermott TR. Arsenic and Mercury Distribution in an Aquatic Food Chain: Importance of Femtoplankton and Picoplankton Filtration Fractions. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:225-241. [PMID: 36349954 PMCID: PMC10753857 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5516] [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: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were examined in the Yellowstone Lake food chain, focusing on two lake locations separated by approximately 20 km and differing in lake floor hydrothermal vent activity. Sampling spanned from femtoplankton to the main fish species, Yellowstone cutthroat trout and the apex predator lake trout. Mercury bioaccumulated in muscle and liver of both trout species, biomagnifying with age, whereas As decreased in older fish, which indicates differential exposure routes for these metal(loid)s. Mercury and As concentrations were higher in all food chain filter fractions (0.1-, 0.8-, and 3.0-μm filters) at the vent-associated Inflated Plain site, illustrating the impact of localized hydrothermal inputs. Femtoplankton and picoplankton size biomass (0.1- and 0.8-μm filters) accounted for 30%-70% of total Hg or As at both locations. By contrast, only approximately 4% of As and <1% of Hg were found in the 0.1-μm filtrate, indicating that comparatively little As or Hg actually exists as an ionic form or intercalated with humic compounds, a frequent assumption in freshwaters and marine waters. Ribosomal RNA (18S) gene sequencing of DNA derived from the 0.1-, 0.8-, and 3.0-μm filters showed significant eukaryote biomass in these fractions, providing a novel view of the femtoplankton and picoplankton size biomass, which assists in explaining why these fractions may contain such significant Hg and As. These results infer that femtoplankton and picoplankton metal(loid) loads represent aquatic food chain entry points that need to be accounted for and that are important for better understanding Hg and As biochemistry in aquatic systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:225-241. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah M. Alowaifeer
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Scott Clingenpeel
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Washington River Protection Solutions, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Jinjun Kan
- Microbiology Department, Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Patricia E. Bigelow
- US National Park Service, Center for Resources, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
| | - Masafumi Yoshinaga
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Brian Bothner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Timothy R. McDermott
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
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18
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Pitoňáková T. Mercury concentration in the tissues of the Eurasian otter: a seasonal dependance in Slovakia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:3795-3803. [PMID: 35962166 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22459-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The river otter is considered to be an important bioindicator of water clarity. This study focuses on mercury contamination within this species. Throughout the study, individuals from habitats in the foothills and surroundings of the Liptovská Mara reservoir were analyzed. Twenty-three samples of liver tissue, and twenty-two samples of hair and kidney tissue were collected. Of these samples, the average mercury concentration detected in tissues was 10.6 mg/kg in guard hairs; 12.9 mg/kg in under hairs; 3.3 mg/kg in kidney tissue; and 4.3 mg/kg in liver tissue. Analysis of certified reference material (ERM-BB186-Pig Kidney) was used to assist in the development of an accurate method for total mercury determination in animal tissues, to check the quality of measurements, and to validate the measurement method. Our method represented a high average percentage of recovery (> 95%) in the standard reference material matrix and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5% or less. Seasonality was determined to be a significant factor influencing the level of contamination of a given individual, both through mercury methylation within the aquatic environment and through fish ingestion by this apex semi-aquatic predator (guard hairs (p = 0.01); underfur (p = 0.04); kidney (p = 0.03); liver (p = 0.03)). Sex, location, and body size were not found to have a significant influence on heavy metal concentrations in river otters sampled in terms of season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Pitoňáková
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia.
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19
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Thera JC, Kidd KA, Stewart AR, Bertolo RF, O'Driscoll NJ. Using tissue cysteine to predict the trophic transfer of methylmercury and selenium in lake food webs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:119936. [PMID: 35964789 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The biomagnification of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) through aquatic food webs using nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N) varies among ecosystems but underlying mechanisms are yet unexplained. Given the strong links between MeHg and thiol-containing amino acids and proteins containing selenocysteine, our hypothesis was that cysteine content is a better predictor of MeHg and Se transfer through lake food webs than δ15N. Food web samples were collected from six lakes in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the regression slopes of log MeHg or Se versus protein-bound cysteine or bulk δ15N were compared. Across all six lakes, MeHg varied by a factor of 10 among taxa and was significantly and positively related to both cysteine (R2 = 0.65-0.80, p < 0.001) and δ15N (R2 = 0.88-0.94, p < 0.001), with no among-system differences in these slopes. In contrast, total Se concentrations varied by less than a factor of 2 among taxa in four lakes and were significantly related to cysteine in only two food webs (R2 = 0.20 & 0.37, p = 0.014 & < 0.001); however, δ15N was not a predictor of Se in any lake (p = 0.052-0.777). Overall, these novel results indicate that cysteine content predicts MeHg, and sometimes Se, across trophic levels, providing a potential mechanism for among-system differences in their biomagnification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Thera
- Canadian Rivers Institute and Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Canadian Rivers Institute and Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada; Department of Biology & School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | | | - Robert F Bertolo
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
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Yan H, Xiang QQ, Wang P, Zhang JY, Lian LH, Chen ZY, Li CJ, Chen LQ. Trophodynamics and health risk assessment of toxic trace metals in the food web of a plateau freshwater lake. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 439:129690. [PMID: 36104924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The trophodynamics of toxic trace metals is significant for assessing the threat of toxic trace metals to the aquatic ecosystem and human safety. However, due to the difficulty of accurately calculating the trophic positions of freshwater aquatic organisms in the food web, the comprehensive process of trophodynamics of toxic trace metals in freshwater ecosystems was still rarely known. By integrating the compound-specific nitrogen stable isotopic analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AAs) and the Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (SIMM) as a novel approach, the present study investigated the trophodynamics of five toxic trace metals (Zn, As, Cr, Cu, and Hg) in the food web of the YangZong Lake, a plateau freshwater lake that was once heavily polluted by arsenic in Yunnan Province, China. The results revealed that Hg tended to be efficiently biomagnified in the food web with a trophic magnification factor of 1.75; As, Cr, and Cu were biodiluted significantly, while Zn showed no biomagnification or biodilution trends. The dietary health risk assessment indicated the potential health risk of toxic trace metals for the local residents of long-term fish consumption. The present work highlights the accuracy and reliability of the novel CSIA-AAS+SIMM approach in the calculation of the trophic positions of freshwater organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yan
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian-Qian Xiang
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China; Yunnan International Joint Research Center for Hydro-Ecology Science & Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Wang
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China; Yunnan International Joint Research Center for Hydro-Ecology Science & Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Yu Zhang
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Hong Lian
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Ying Chen
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Jing Li
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China; Yunnan International Joint Research Center for Hydro-Ecology Science & Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Qiang Chen
- Instititue of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China; Yunnan International Joint Research Center for Hydro-Ecology Science & Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China.
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21
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McKinney MA, Chételat J, Burke SM, Elliott KH, Fernie KJ, Houde M, Kahilainen KK, Letcher RJ, Morris AD, Muir DCG, Routti H, Yurkowski DJ. Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Biotic interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 834:155221. [PMID: 35427623 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change has led to profound alterations of the Arctic environment and ecosystems, with potential secondary effects on mercury (Hg) within Arctic biota. This review presents the current scientific evidence for impacts of direct physical climate change and indirect ecosystem change on Hg exposure and accumulation in Arctic terrestrial, freshwater, and marine organisms. As the marine environment is elevated in Hg compared to the terrestrial environment, terrestrial herbivores that now exploit coastal/marine foods when terrestrial plants are iced over may be exposed to higher Hg concentrations. Conversely, certain populations of predators, including Arctic foxes and polar bears, have shown lower Hg concentrations related to reduced sea ice-based foraging and increased land-based foraging. How climate change influences Hg in Arctic freshwater fishes is not clear, but for lacustrine populations it may depend on lake-specific conditions, including interrelated alterations in lake ice duration, turbidity, food web length and energy sources (benthic to pelagic), and growth dilution. In several marine mammal and seabird species, tissue Hg concentrations have shown correlations with climate and weather variables, including climate oscillation indices and sea ice trends; these findings suggest that wind, precipitation, and cryosphere changes that alter Hg transport and deposition are impacting Hg concentrations in Arctic marine organisms. Ecological changes, including northward range shifts of sub-Arctic species and altered body condition, have also been shown to affect Hg levels in some populations of Arctic marine species. Given the limited number of populations and species studied to date, especially within Arctic terrestrial and freshwater systems, further research is needed on climate-driven processes influencing Hg concentrations in Arctic ecosystems and their net effects. Long-term pan-Arctic monitoring programs should consider ancillary datasets on climate, weather, organism ecology and physiology to improve interpretation of spatial variation and time trends of Hg in Arctic biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3 V9, Canada.
| | - John Chételat
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Samantha M Burke
- Minnow Aquatic Environmental Services, Guelph, ON N1H 1E9, Canada
| | - Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3 V9, Canada
| | - Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Magali Houde
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montréal, QC H2Y 5E7, Canada
| | - Kimmo K Kahilainen
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, FI-16900 Lammi, Finland
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Adam D Morris
- Northern Contaminants Program, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Gatineau, QC J8X 2V6, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - David J Yurkowski
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
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22
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Knott KK, Coleman E, Cianci-Gaskill JA, O'Hearn R, Niswonger D, Brockman JD, Argerich A, North R, Wenzel J. Mercury, selenium, and fatty acids in the axial muscle of largemouth bass: evaluating the influence of seasonal and sexual changes in fish condition and reproductive status. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:761-781. [PMID: 35438434 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02544-4] [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] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Largemouth bass (LMB, 265-475 mm) were collected to document whether changes in fish condition and reproductive status influenced the concentration of total mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) in axial muscle by season and sex. The fatty acid (FA) composition of fish was also examined to describe seasonal and sexual differences and identify whether arachidonic acid (ARA) could be used as a biomarker of Hg toxicity. There was a trend for females to have lower (p < 0.062) Se concentrations than males. The concentration of Se for females during spring (mean ± SD, 686 ± 51 ng/g dw) was 15% lower than males (806 ± 67 ng/g dw). Lower Se concentrations in females than males continued through summer and fall. Concentration of Hg for females during spring (152 ± 39 ng/g ww) was also 59% lower than males (373 ± 303 ng/g ww), but the difference was not significant (p > 0.2). The percent of lipids was greatest in fall and winter (3%) and comprised primarily of omega-3 fatty acids (35 g/100 g lipid). Fish condition as measured by percent lipids and relative weight was negatively (p < 0.02) related to Hg concentration for females and males. Lipid content for both sexes was also positively (p < 0.05) related to the Se:Hg ratio. Relative weight was positively related to the Se:Hg ratio for females during all seasons (p = 0.014), but only during spring and summer for males (p < 0.007). A low Se:Hg value was associated with an elevation in ARA for both sexes and a reduced hepatosomatic index in males. Data suggested that females transferred muscle stores of Se and Hg to developing oocytes during spring. This study generates hypotheses regarding the physiological drivers of seasonal and sexual variability in Hg, Se, and FA in LMB that may be applicable to other species and have implications for fisheries health and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina K Knott
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Ecological Health Unit, Science Branch, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Emma Coleman
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Ecological Health Unit, Science Branch, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jacob A Cianci-Gaskill
- School of Natural Resources, Anheuser‑Bush Natural Resources Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Rebecca O'Hearn
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Ecological Health Unit, Science Branch, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Darby Niswonger
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Central Region, Regional Resource Management Branch, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - John D Brockman
- University of Missouri Research Reactor Center, 1513 Research Park Drive, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Alba Argerich
- School of Natural Resources, Anheuser‑Bush Natural Resources Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Rebecca North
- School of Natural Resources, Anheuser‑Bush Natural Resources Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jeff Wenzel
- Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Jefferson City, MO, USA
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23
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Wu Z, Li Z, Shao B, Zhang Y, He W, Lu Y, Gusvitskii K, Zhao Y, Liu Y, Wang X, Tong Y. Impact of dissolved organic matter and environmental factors on methylmercury concentrations across aquatic ecosystems inferred from a global dataset. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 294:133713. [PMID: 35074323 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133713] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) input into ecosystems is estimated to have increased by twofold to fivefold since the industrial revolution. In aquatic ecosystems, methylmercury (MeHg) receives the most attentions of all the Hg species due to its neurotoxicity and strong bioaccumulation capacity in food chain. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is crucial in impacting aquatic Hg transformation. However, only few spatially constrained studies have attempted to quantify the relative importance of DOM and other factors (e.g., Hg availability, temperature, pH, and land-use type) on MeHg concentration. In this study, we collected data of 585 water samples at 373 sites globally, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and wetlands, and characterized the global pattern of MeHg distribution and environmental drivers of aquatic MeHg concentration. Our results showed that MeHg concentrations ranged from detection limits to 11 (geometric mean 0.11 and average 0.29) ng/L, and the highest MeHg concentration and Hg methylation potential were observed in wetlands. A positive relationship was observed between MeHg fraction in the total mercury (THg) and DOM for all the aquatic ecosystems. Using the structural equation modeling, we found that Hg availability was a dominant factor in impacting water MeHg concentration followed by DOM. According to 129 samples of specific DOM source information, we found that the percentage of THg as MeHg (%MeHg) in water dominated by the autochthonous DOM was higher than that dominated by the allochthonous DOM. Our results could advance understanding of aquatic Hg cycling and their environmental drivers, which are fundamental for predicting and mitigating MeHg productions and its potential health risks for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhike Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Bo Shao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yiyan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Wei He
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yiren Lu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Kair Gusvitskii
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yingxin Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yurong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xuejun Wang
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yindong Tong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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24
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O'Driscoll NJ, Christensen TM, Mann EA, Keenan R, Klapstein SJ. Temporal Changes in Photoreducible Mercury, Photoreduction Rates, and the Role of Dissolved Organic Matter in Freshwater Lakes. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 108:635-640. [PMID: 34999908 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03422-1] [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: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Total photoreducible mercury [Hg(II)RED] and photoreduction rates in the surface waters of four lakes in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia were measured monthly over a summer. The percent of THg that was photoreducible [%Hg(II)RED] decreased significantly in two of the four lakes from early to late summer: North Cranberry (maximum 42% to minimum 14%) and Big Dam East (maximum 51% to minimum 6%). Hg(II)RED was found to have a linear relationship with THg for all combined site data. THg and Hg(II)RED were found to have positive linear relationships with DOC concentrations (R2 = 0.97; n = 36; p < 0.01 and R2 = 0.75; n = 36; p < 0.01, respectively). A smaller proportion of THg was found to be photoreducible with increasing DOC concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada.
| | - T M Christensen
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - E A Mann
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - R Keenan
- Air Quality Science Division, Environment Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - S J Klapstein
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
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25
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Luo J, Zhang W, Bai L, Li H, Gao Z. Characterization of the trophic transfer and fate of methylmercury in the food web of Zhalong Wetland, Northeastern China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:25222-25233. [PMID: 34837623 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17675-0] [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: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The transfer and fate of methylmercury (MeHg) in typical components, such as sediment, sediment-inhabiting animals, pelagic fish, and three large waterfowls, namely, red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana), of the ecosystem in China's Zhalong Wetland were examined using equivalence-based mass balance model. The biomagnification degree of MeHg increased on the species at the high trophic level of the system. Hence, elevated MeHg concentration (3.2 μg g-1, dry weight) was detected in the endangered G. japonensis. The accumulation of the organometal generally followed the decreasing order of oriental stork (carnivore) > mallard (omnivore) > red-crowned crane (omnivore). The predicted results of MeHg at each node of the food web were generally in accordance with the measured values (F = 0.09, P = 0.78), implying that the model is suitable for the prediction of MeHg fate in the inland aquatic system. According to the model, the respiration for the species at low trophic strata was the key input source of MeHg, but ingestion played an important role for MeHg intake in the species at the high trophic position in the food web. Metabolism was a crucial pathway of MeHg loss for the top predators in the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Luo
- Department of Science, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenchong Zhang
- College of Life Science and Agriculture Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Bai
- Department of Science, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongying Li
- Department of Science, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyan Gao
- Zhalong National Natural Reserve, Qiqihar, 161002, People's Republic of China
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26
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Córdoba-Tovar L, Marrugo-Negrete J, Barón PR, Díez S. Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112226. [PMID: 34717950 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112226] [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: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Biomagnification of trace elements is increasingly evident in aquatic ecosystems. In this review we investigate the drivers of biomagnification of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) in aquatic food webs. Despite Hg, As and Se biomagnify in food webs, the biomagnification potential of Hg is much higher than that of As and Se. The slope of trophic increase of Hg is consistent between temperate (0.20), tropical (0.22) and Arctic (0.22) ecosystems. Se exerts a mitigating role against Hg toxicity but desired maximum and minimum concentrations are unknown. Environmental (e.g. latitude, temperature and physicochemical characteristics) and ecological factors (e.g. trophic structure composition and food zone) can substantially influence the biomagnification process these metal (oids). Besides the level of bioaccumulated concentration, biomagnification depends on the biology, ecology and physiology of the organisms that play a key role in this process. However, it may be necessary to determine strictly biological, physiological and environmental factors that could modulate the concentrations of As and Se in particular. The information presented here should provide clues for research that include under-researched variables. Finally, we suggest that biomagnification be incorporated into environmental management policies, mainly in risk assessment, monitoring and environmental protection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonomir Córdoba-Tovar
- Universidad Tecnólogica del Chocó, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Grupo de Investigación Recursos Naturales y Toxicología Ambiental, Quibdó, Chocó, A.A 292, Colombia; Universidad de Córdoba, Cra 6 # 76 - 103, Montería, 230002, Córdoba, Colombia
| | | | - Pablo Ramos Barón
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Transversal 4#42-00, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia
| | - Sergi Díez
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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Qiu Q, Huang Y, Zhang B, Huang D, Chen X, Fan Z, Lin J, Yang W, Wang K, Qu N, Li J, Li Z, Huang J, Li S, Zhang J, Liu G, Rui G, Chen X, Zhao Q. Noninvasive Dual-Modality Photoacoustic-Ultrasonic Imaging to Detect Mammalian Embryo Abnormalities after Prenatal Exposure to Methylmercury Chloride (MMC): A Mouse Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:27002. [PMID: 35108087 PMCID: PMC8809665 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe environmental pollution and contaminants left in the environment due to the abuse of chemicals, such as methylmercury, are associated with an increasing number of embryonic disorders. Ultrasound imaging has been widely used to investigate embryonic development malformation and dysorganoplasia in both research and clinics. However, this technique is limited by its low contrast and lacking functional parameters such as the ability to measure blood oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) and hemoglobin content (HbT) in tissues, measures that could be early vital indicators for embryonic development abnormality. Herein, we proposed combining two highly complementary techniques into a photoacoustic-ultrasound (PA-US) dual-modality imaging approach to noninvasively detect early mouse embryo abnormalities caused by methylmercury chloride (MMC) in real time. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the use of PA-US dual-modality imaging for noninvasive detection of embryonic toxicity at different stages of growth following prenatal MMC exposure. Additionally, we compared the PA-US imagining results to traditional histological methods to determine whether this noninvasive method could detect early developmental defects in utero. METHODS Different dosages of MMC were administrated to pregnant mice by gavage to establish models of different levels of embryonic malformation. Ultrasound, photoacoustic signal intensity (PSI), blood oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ), and hemoglobin content (HbT) were quantified in all experimental groups. Furthermore, the embryos were sectioned and examined for pathological changes. RESULTS Using PA-US imaging, we detected differences in PSI, SaO 2 , HbT, and heart volume at embryonic day (E)14.5 and E11.5 for low and high dosages of MMC, respectively. More important, our results showed that differences between control and treated embryos identified by in utero PA-US imaging were consistent with those identified in ex vivo embryos using histological methods. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that noninvasive dual-modality PA-US is a promising strategy for detecting developmental toxicology in the uterus. Overall, this study presents a new approach for detecting embryonic toxicities, which could be crucial in clinics when diagnosing aberrant embryonic development. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8907.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yali Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Doudou Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhongxiong Fan
- Department of Biomaterials, College of Materials, Research Center of Biomedical Engineering of Xiamen & Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Fujian Province & Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jinpei Lin
- Department of Integrated TCM & Western Medicine Department, Fujian Cancer Hospital & Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wensheng Yang
- Department of Pathology Affiliated Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ning Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhihong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jingyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Shenrui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Gang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Gang Rui
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qingliang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Clarke RG, Klapstein SJ, Hillier NK, O'Driscoll NJ. Methylmercury in caddisflies and mayflies: Influences of water and sediment chemistry. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131785. [PMID: 34399264 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and uptake at the base of the food web is useful for assessing mercury exposure risk to higher trophic level organisms. Higher MeHg concentrations near the base of the food web may result in more MeHg exposure and accumulation in higher trophic organisms. Here, we analyze MeHg in caddisflies, mayflies, lake water, and sediment collected from two temperate lakes and one brook in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada. Overall, caddisfly larvae MeHg (15.38-276.96 ng/g; n = 29) was not significantly correlated with water chemistry. Whereas mayfly naiads MeHg (14.28-166.82 ng/g; n = 31) was positively correlated with water MeHg (rs = 0.43), negatively correlated with pH (rs = -0.49), and positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC; rs = 0.48). Of the mercury in insect tissues, the %MeHg ranged from 56 to 75 % in caddisfly larvae and 38-47 % in mayfly naiads. MeHg bioaccumulation factors (BAF) varied greatly (water to tissue BAFs = 0.145 × 106-1.054 × 106; sediment to tissue BAFs = 0.017 × 106-0.541 × 106). This study highlights the importance of quantifying variations in MeHg bioaccumulation and BAFs of common aquatic insect bioindicators at the base of complex food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel G Clarke
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Sara J Klapstein
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada.
| | - N Kirk Hillier
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
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29
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Blanchfield PJ, Rudd JWM, Hrenchuk LE, Amyot M, Babiarz CL, Beaty KG, Bodaly RAD, Branfireun BA, Gilmour CC, Graydon JA, Hall BD, Harris RC, Heyes A, Hintelmann H, Hurley JP, Kelly CA, Krabbenhoft DP, Lindberg SE, Mason RP, Paterson MJ, Podemski CL, Sandilands KA, Southworth GR, St Louis VL, Tate LS, Tate MT. Experimental evidence for recovery of mercury-contaminated fish populations. Nature 2021; 601:74-78. [PMID: 34912113 PMCID: PMC8732272 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04222-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic releases of mercury (Hg)1-3 are a human health issue4 because the potent toxicant methylmercury (MeHg), formed primarily by microbial methylation of inorganic Hg in aquatic ecosystems, bioaccumulates to high concentrations in fish consumed by humans5,6. Predicting the efficacy of Hg pollution controls on fish MeHg concentrations is complex because many factors influence the production and bioaccumulation of MeHg7-9. Here we conducted a 15-year whole-ecosystem, single-factor experiment to determine the magnitude and timing of reductions in fish MeHg concentrations following reductions in Hg additions to a boreal lake and its watershed. During the seven-year addition phase, we applied enriched Hg isotopes to increase local Hg wet deposition rates fivefold. The Hg isotopes became increasingly incorporated into the food web as MeHg, predominantly from additions to the lake because most of those in the watershed remained there. Thereafter, isotopic additions were stopped, resulting in an approximately 100% reduction in Hg loading to the lake. The concentration of labelled MeHg quickly decreased by up to 91% in lower trophic level organisms, initiating rapid decreases of 38-76% of MeHg concentration in large-bodied fish populations in eight years. Although Hg loading from watersheds may not decline in step with lowering deposition rates, this experiment clearly demonstrates that any reduction in Hg loadings to lakes, whether from direct deposition or runoff, will have immediate benefits to fish consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Blanchfield
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. .,Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. .,IISD Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - John W M Rudd
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,R&K Research, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lee E Hrenchuk
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,IISD Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christopher L Babiarz
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ken G Beaty
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - R A Drew Bodaly
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Brian A Branfireun
- Department of Biology, Biological and Geological Sciences Building, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer A Graydon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Britt D Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Reed C Harris
- Reed Harris Environmental, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Heyes
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, MD, USA
| | - Holger Hintelmann
- Water Quality Center, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - James P Hurley
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Carol A Kelly
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,R&K Research, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Robert P Mason
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, USA
| | - Michael J Paterson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,IISD Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Cheryl L Podemski
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ken A Sandilands
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,IISD Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Vincent L St Louis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lori S Tate
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI, USA
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30
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Mao L, Liu X, Wang Z, Wang B, Lin C, Xin M, Zhang BT, Wu T, He M, Ouyang W. Trophic transfer and dietary exposure risk of mercury in aquatic organisms from urbanized coastal ecosystems. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 281:130836. [PMID: 33991905 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, 26 surface seawater samples, 26 surface sediment samples and 114 organisms were collected to study the trophic transfer and dietary exposure risk of mercury (Hg) in organisms from the Jiaozhou Bay, which is a typical semi-enclosed urbanized bay. The total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations did not exceed the threshold limits and performed as: fish > crustaceans > mollusks. The trophic level values (TLs) were less than 3 in all the groups, indicating simple structure of food chain. With the increasing δ15N value, THg and MeHg were significantly biomagnified in the mollusks and fish but not in the crustaceans. In addition, the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MeHg were higher than inorganic mercury (IHg) in the aquatic food chain. Target hazard quotient (THQ) and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) indicated that Hg exposure via consumption of seafood from the Jiaozhou Bay did not pose significant health risks for general population. Consuming fish will face the higher health risk than crustaceans and mollusks, especially in urban regions. Moreover, the risk of MeHg caused by intaking seafood deserved more attention. Trophic transfer function (TTF) explicated the transfer of Hg in the ecosystem and higher trophic transfer efficiency of MeHg than IHg. TTF interpreted the terrestrial input of Hg should be controlled to ensure the safety of consuming seafood from the Jiaozhou Bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xitao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Zongxing Wang
- The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Baodong Wang
- The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Chunye Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ming Xin
- The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Bo-Tao Zhang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Tingting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Mengchang He
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Wei Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Advanced Interdisciplinary Institute of Environment and Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519087, China
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31
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Jing M, Lin D, Wu P, Kainz MJ, Bishop K, Yan H, Li Q, Feng X. Diet influence on mercury bioaccumulation as revealed by polyunsaturated fatty acids in zoobenthos from two contrasting environments: Chinese reservoirs and Swedish lakes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 782:146410. [PMID: 33839663 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in zoobenthos varies across aquatic food webs. In this field study, contents of total Hg (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and PUFA were investigated in zoobenthos of Chinese reservoirs and Swedish lakes, with contrasting environmental characteristics and algal diet sources, which can result in difference of Hg and PUFA in zoobenthos from these two habits. Using PUFA as dietary biomarkers of algae in zoobenthos, we evaluated effects of environmental factors and algal diet sources on the accumulation of THg, MeHg, and the highly required PUFA eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20: 5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in zoobenthos. Average THg and MeHg in zoobenthos were higher in Chinese reservoirs than Swedish lakes (p < 0.05). Average EPA content of zoobenthos was similar in these two habitats (p > 0.05), yet average DHA content of zoobenthos was higher in Chinese reservoirs than Swedish lakes (p < 0.05). Total Hg and MeHg contents of zoobenthos in Swedish lakes were predicted by environmental factors; e.g., negatively with pH and positively with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, yet had no significant relationship with the algal dietary. In Chinese reservoirs, however, no environmental factor correlated well with THg contents in zoobenthos, and only DOC concentrations showed positive correlation with MeHg contents in zoobenthos. Besides, the algal dietary was also positively correlated with MeHg contents in zoobenthos. EPA and DHA contents of zoobenthos in Swedish lakes primarily associated with algal diet. By contrast, in Chinese reservoirs, EPA and DHA contents of zoobenthos were affected by both environmental factors and algal diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China; School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Dan Lin
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Pianpian Wu
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
| | - Martin J Kainz
- WasserCluster - Biologische Station Lunz, Inter-University Center for Aquatic Ecosystems Research, Lunz am See, Austria; Department of Health Sciences, Medicine and Research, Danube-University Krems, Austria
| | - Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
| | - Haiyu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China.
| | - Qiuhua Li
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Area and Protection of Ecological Environment of Guizhou Province Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550000, PR China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China
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Kozak N, Ahonen SA, Keva O, Østbye K, Taipale SJ, Hayden B, Kahilainen KK. Environmental and biological factors are joint drivers of mercury biomagnification in subarctic lake food webs along a climate and productivity gradient. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146261. [PMID: 34030265 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Subarctic lakes are getting warmer and more productive due to the joint effects of climate change and intensive land-use practices (e.g. forest clear-cutting and peatland ditching), processes that potentially increase leaching of peat- and soil-stored mercury into lake ecosystems. We sampled biotic communities from primary producers (algae) to top consumers (piscivorous fish), in 19 subarctic lakes situated on a latitudinal (69.0-66.5° N), climatic (+3.2 °C temperature and +30% precipitation from north to south) and catchment land-use (pristine to intensive forestry areas) gradient. We first tested how the joint effects of climate and productivity influence mercury biomagnification in food webs focusing on the trophic magnification slope (TMS) and mercury baseline (THg baseline) level, both derived from linear regression between total mercury (log10THg) and organism trophic level (TL). We examined a suite of environmental and biotic variables thought to explain THg baseline and TMS with stepwise generalized multiple regression models. Finally, we assessed how climate and lake productivity affect the THg content of top predators in subarctic lakes. We found biomagnification of mercury in all studied lakes, but with variable TMS and THg baseline values. In stepwise multiple regression models, TMS was best explained by negative relationships with food chain length, climate-productivity gradient, catchment properties, and elemental C:N ratio of the top predator (full model R2 = 0.90, p < 0.001). The model examining variation in THg baseline values included the same variables with positive relationships (R2 = 0.69, p = 0.014). Mass-standardized THg content of a common top predator (1 kg northern pike, Esox lucius) increased towards warmer and more productive lakes. Results indicate that increasing eutrophication via forestry-related land-use activities increase the THg levels at the base of the food web and in top predators, suggesting that the sources of nutrients and mercury should be considered in future bioaccumulation and biomagnification studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Kozak
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, Anne Evenstad veg 80, 2480 Koppang, Norway.
| | - Salla A Ahonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ossi Keva
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kjartan Østbye
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, Anne Evenstad veg 80, 2480 Koppang, Norway; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sami J Taipale
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Brian Hayden
- Biology Department, Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Kimmo K Kahilainen
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, 16900 Lammi, Finland; Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Käsivarrentie 14622, 99490 Kilpisjärvi, Finland
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Wu G, Tang S, Han J, Li C, Liu L, Xu X, Xu Z, Chen Z, Wang Y, Qiu G. Distributions of Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Dragonflies from a Large, Abandoned Mercury Mining Region in China. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 81:25-35. [PMID: 34027570 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-021-00854-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Dragonflies (Order Odonata) often are considered to be biosentinels of environmental contamination, e.g., heavy metals and/or persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Dragonflies (n = 439) belonging to 15 species of 8 genera were collected from an abandoned mercury (Hg) mining region in China to investigate the bioaccumulation of total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg). THg and MeHg concentrations in dragonflies varied widely within ranges of 0.06-19 mg/kg (average: 1.5 ± 2.2 mg/kg) and 0.02-5.7 mg/kg (average: 0.75 ± 0.65 mg/kg), respectively. THg and MeHg were positively correlated with bodyweight (THg: r2 = 0.10, P = 0.000; MeHg: r2 = 0.09, P = 0.000). Significant variations were observed among species, with the highest MeHg value (in Orthetrum triangulare) was fivefold higher than the lowest (in Pantala flavescens). These variations were consistent with those of nitrogen isotope (δ15N) values, indicating that increased δ15N, i.e., trophic levels, may reflect increased exposure and uptake of biomagnifying MeHg in dragonflies. A toxicological risk assessment found hazard quotients for specialist dragonfly-consuming birds of up to 7.2, which is 2.4 times greater than the permissible limit of 3, suggesting a potential toxicological risk of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoen Wu
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003 , China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Shunlin Tang
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003 , China.
| | - Jialiang Han
- 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
| | - Chan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Lin Liu
- 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
| | - Xiaohang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Zhidong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- College of Food Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
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Xiang Y, Liu G, Yin Y, Cai Y. Periphyton as an important source of methylmercury in Everglades water and food web. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 410:124551. [PMID: 33223320 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Periphyton is ubiquitous in Florida Everglades and has a profound effect on mercury (Hg) cycling. Enhanced methylmercury (MeHg) production in periphyton has been well documented, but the re-distribution of MeHg from periphyton remains unknown. In this study, periphyton, sediments, surface water, periphyton overlying water, and periphyton porewater were collected from Everglades for analyzing the distribution of MeHg and total Hg (THg). Results showed that there were no significant differences in THg and MeHg in different types of periphyton, but they all displayed higher MeHg levels than sediments. MeHg distribution coefficients (logkd) in periphyton were lower than in sediments, suggesting that periphyton MeHg could be more labile entering aquatic cycling and bioaccumulation. In water, the more the distance of water samples taken from periphyton, the lower the MeHg and dissolved organic carbon concentrations were detected. In extracellular polymeric substances of periphyton, MeHg in colloidal fractions was significantly higher than that in capsular fractions. It was estimated that approximately 10% (or 1.35 kg) of periphyton MeHg were passed on to mosquitofish entering the food web during wet season, contributing 73% of total Hg stocked in mosquitofish. These results revealed the importance of periphyton on water MeHg distribution and MeHg bioaccumulation in Everglades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Xiang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th ST, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Guangliang Liu
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th ST, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Yongguang Yin
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th ST, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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Ponton DE, Lavoie RA, Leclerc M, Bilodeau F, Planas D, Amyot M. Understanding Food Web Mercury Accumulation Through Trophic Transfer and Carbon Processing along a River Affected by Recent Run-of-river Dams. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:2949-2959. [PMID: 33534545 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Unlike large dams which favor methylation of Hg in flooded soils over long periods, run-of-river dams are designed to flood a limited area of soils and are therefore not expected to significantly affect mercury (Hg) cycling or carbon processing. We studied the Hg and carbon cycles within food webs from several sectors along the Saint-Maurice River, Quebec, Canada, that differ in how they are influenced by two run-of-river dams and other watershed disturbances. We observed peak Hg concentrations in fish five-year postimpoundment, but these levels were reduced three years after this peak. Methylmercury concentrations in low trophic level fish and invertebrates were related to their carbon source (δ13C) rather than their trophic positions (δ15N). Biomagnification, measured by trophic magnification slopes, was driven mainly by methylmercury concentrations in low-trophic level organisms and environmental factors related to organic matter degradation and Hg-methylation. River sectors, δ13C and δ15N, predicted up to 80% of the variability in food web methylmercury concentrations. The installation of run-of-river dams and the related pondages, in association with other watershed disturbances, altered carbon processing, promoted Hg-methylation and its accumulation at the base of the food web, and led to a temporary increase in Hg levels in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic E Ponton
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Raphaël A Lavoie
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 801-1550 Avenue d'Estimauville, Québec, Québec G1J 0C3, Canada
| | - Maxime Leclerc
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - François Bilodeau
- Direction Environnement, Hydro-Québec, 800 Boul. De Maisonneuve Est, Montréal, Québec H2Z 1A4, Canada
| | - Dolors Planas
- GRIL, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
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36
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Gentès S, Löhrer B, Legeay A, Mazel AF, Anschutz P, Charbonnier C, Tessier E, Maury-Brachet R. Drivers of variability in mercury and methylmercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in temperate freshwater lakes. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 267:128890. [PMID: 33248739 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The four largest freshwater lakes in southwestern France are of both ecological and economic importance. However, some of them are subjected to mercury (Hg) contamination, resulting in the ban of human consumption of piscivorous fish. Moreover, beyond predatory fish, little information exist regarding Hg levels in other species of these ecosystems. In this context, we used a food web analytical approach to investigate Hg bioaccumulation and biomagnification in relation to the trophic structure of these four lakes. More specifically, various organisms (macrophytes, epiphyton, invertebrates and fish) were collected at the four lakes and analysed for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes as well as for total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg). A spatial variability of bioaccumulation in organisms was observed, particularly in carnivorous fish, with higher Hg levels being found in the two more northern lakes (median±SE: 3491 ± 474 and 1113 ± 209 ng THg.g-1 dw in lakes HC and L, respectively) than in the southern pair (600 ± 117 and 911 ± 117 ng THg.g-1 dw in lakes CS and PB, respectively). Methylmercury biomagnification was observed through the food webs of all four lakes, with different trophic magnification slopes (HC = 0.16; L = 0.33; CS = 0.27; PB = 0.27), even though the length of the food chains was similar between the lakes. Our results suggest that rather than the food web structure, anthropogenic inputs (sulfate in northern lakes and phosphorus inputs in southern ones) may have a strong impact, more or less directly, on Hg methylation in freshwater environments, and lead to concentrations exceeding environmental recommendations despite low Hg backgrounds in sediment and water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Gentès
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, UMR 5805, F-33120 Arcachon, France.
| | - Brice Löhrer
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, UMR 5805, F-33120 Arcachon, France
| | - Alexia Legeay
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, UMR 5805, F-33120 Arcachon, France
| | | | - Pierre Anschutz
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | | | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM-MIRA, UMR 5254, 64000, Pau, France
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Zhang Z, Wang WX, Zheng N, Cao Y, Xiao H, Zhu R, Guan H, Xiao H. Methylmercury biomagnification in aquatic food webs of Poyang Lake, China: Insights from amino acid signatures. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 404:123700. [PMID: 33045461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
As the dominant mercury species in fish, methylmercury (MeHg) biomagnifies during its trophic transfer through aquatic food webs. MeHg is known to bind to cysteine, forming the complex of MeHg-cysteine. However, relationship between MeHg and cysteine in large-scale food webs has not been explored and contrasted with MeHg biomagnification models. Here, we quantified the compound-specific nitrogen isotopic analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA), MeHg, and amino acid composition in aquatic organisms of Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China. The trophic positions (TPAA) of organisms ranged from 1.0 ± 0.1-3.7 ± 0.2 based on CSIA-AA approach. The trophic magnification factor (TMF) of MeHg, derived from the regression slope of Log-transformed MeHg in organisms upon their TPAA for the entire food web was 9.5 ± 0.5. Significantly positive regression between MeHg and cysteine (R2 = 0.64, p < 0.01) was documented, suggesting MeHg-cysteine complex may potentially play a critical role in the bioaccumulation of MeHg. Furthermore, TMFs of MeHg calculated with and without cysteine normalization compared well (7.7-8.7) when excluding primary producers. Our results implied that MeHg may biomagnify as the complex of MeHg-cysteine and contribute to our understanding of MeHg trophic transfer at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyi Zhang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of the Causes and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China; School of Energy and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nengjian Zheng
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of the Causes and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Yansheng Cao
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of the Causes and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Hongwei Xiao
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of the Causes and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Renguo Zhu
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of the Causes and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Hui Guan
- The State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Huayun Xiao
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of the Causes and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China.
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Wang Q, Li Z, Feng X, Wang A, Li X, Wang D, Fan L. Mercury accumulation in vegetable Houttuynia cordata Thunb. from two different geological areas in southwest China and implications for human consumption. Sci Rep 2021; 11:52. [PMID: 33420215 PMCID: PMC7794452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80183-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HCT) is a common vegetable native to southwest China, and grown for consumption. The results suggested that THg contents in all parts and MeHg in underground parts of HCT in Hg mining areas were much higher than those in non-Hg mining areas. The highest THg and MeHg content of HCT were found in the roots, followed by the other tissues in the sequence: roots > leaves > rhizomes > aboveground stems (THg), and roots > rhizomes > aboveground stems > leaves (MeHg). The average THg bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of HCT root in the Hg mining area and in non-Hg mining areas could reach 1.02 ± 0.71 and 0.99 ± 0.71 respectively, indicating that HCT is a Hg accumulator. And the THg and MeHg contents in all tissues of HCT, including the leaves, were significantly correlated with THg and MeHg content in the soil. Additionally, preferred dietary habits of HCT consumption could directly affect the Hg exposure risk. Consuming the aboveground parts (CAP) of HCT potentially poses a high THg exposure risk and consuming the underground parts (CUP) may lead to a relatively high MeHg exposure risk. Only consuming the rhizomes (OCR) of the underground parts could significantly reduce the exposure risk of THg and to some extent of MeHg. In summary, HCT should not be cultivated near the Hg contaminated sites, such as Hg tailings, as it is associated with a greater risk of Hg exposure and high root Hg levels, and the roots should be removed before consumption to reduce the Hg risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfeng Wang
- Department of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi, 563006, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhonggen Li
- Department of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi, 563006, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ao Wang
- Zunyi Product Quality Inspection and Testing Institution, Zunyi, 563006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi, 563006, People's Republic of China
| | - Leilei Fan
- Department of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi, 563006, People's Republic of China
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Chiang G, Kidd KA, Díaz-Jaramillo M, Espejo W, Bahamonde P, O'Driscoll NJ, Munkittrick KR. Methylmercury biomagnification in coastal aquatic food webs from western Patagonia and western Antarctic Peninsula. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 262:128360. [PMID: 33182080 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of concern because its organic and more toxic form, methylHg (MeHg), bioaccumulates and biomagnifies through aquatic food webs to levels that affect the health of fish and fish consumers, including humans. Although much is known about trophic transfer of MeHg in aquatic food webs at temperate latitudes in the northern hemisphere, it is unclear whether its fate is similar in biota from coastal zones of the southeastern Pacific. To assess this gap, MeHg, total Hg and food web structure (using δ13C and δ15N) were measured in marine macroinvertebrates, fishes, birds, and mammals from Patagonian fjords and the Antarctic Peninsula. Trophic magnification slopes (TMS; log MeHg versus δ15N) for coastal food webs of Patagonia were high when compared with studies in the northern hemisphere, and significantly higher near freshwater inputs as compared to offshore sites (0.244 vs 0.192). Similarly, in Antarctica, the site closer to glacial inputs had a significantly higher TMS than the one in the Southern Shetland Islands (0.132 vs 0.073). Composition of the food web also had an influence, as the TMS increased when mammals and seabirds were excluded (0.132-0.221) at a coastal site. This study found that both the composition of the food web and the proximity to freshwater outflows are key factors influencing the TMS for MeHg in Patagonian and Antarctic food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Chiang
- CAPES, Center for Applied Ecology & Sustainability, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology and School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, 1280, Main Street W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Mauricio Díaz-Jaramillo
- IIMyC, Estresores Múltiples en El Ambiente (EMA), FCEyN UNMdP CONICET, Funes 3350 (B7602AYL), Mar Del Plata, 7600, Argentina
| | - Winfred Espejo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinarian Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile
| | - Paulina Bahamonde
- Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, Chile; HUB AMBIENTAL UPLA - Centro de Estudios Avanzado, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
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Riva-Murray K, Bradley PM, Brigham ME. Methylmercury-total mercury ratios in predator and primary consumer insects from Adirondack streams (New York, USA). ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1644-1658. [PMID: 32180092 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02191-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects biota in remote settings due to atmospheric deposition of inorganic Hg, and its conversion to methylmercury (MeHg), the bioaccumulating and toxic form. Characterizing biotic MeHg is important for evaluating aquatic ecosystem responses to changes in Hg inputs. Aquatic insects possess many qualities desired for MeHg biomonitoring, but are not widely used, largely because of limited information regarding percentages of total mercury (THg) composed of MeHg (i.e., MeHg%) in various taxa. Here, we examine taxonomic, spatial, and seasonal variation in MeHg% of stream-dwelling predator and primary-consumer insects from nine streams in the Adirondack region (NY, USA). Predator MeHg% was high (median 94%) and did not differ significantly among five taxa. MeHg% in selected dragonflies (the most abundant predators, Odonata: Aeshnidae and Libellulidae) exhibited little seasonal and spatial variation, and THg concentration was strongly correlated with aqueous (filtered) MeHg (FMeHg; rs = 0.76). In contrast, MeHg% in primary consumers-shredders (northern caddisflies [Trichoptera: Limnephilidae]) and scrapers (flathead mayflies [Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae]), were lower (medians 52% and 35%, respectively), and differed significantly between taxa, among sites, and seasonally. Correlations of THg with FMeHg were weak (shredders, rs = 0.45, p = 0.09) or not significant (scrapers, p = 0.89). The higher MeHg% of predators corresponded with their higher trophic positions (indicated by nitrogen stable isotopes). Results suggest obligate predators hold the most promise for the use of THg as a surrogate for MeHg biomonitoring with aquatic insects within the Adirondack region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul M Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, 720 Gracern Road, Columbia, SC, 29210, USA
| | - Mark E Brigham
- U.S. Geological Survey, 2280 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, MN, 55112, USA
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Li Y, Chen L, Liang S, Qi J, Zhou H, Feng C, Yang X, Wu X, Mi Z, Yang Z. Spatially Explicit Global Hotspots Driving China's Mercury Related Health Impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14547-14557. [PMID: 33112142 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Over 100 nations signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury to control the adverse effects of mercury (Hg) emissions on human beings. A spatially explicit analysis is needed to identify the specific sources and distribution of Hg-related health impacts. This study maps China's Hg-related health impacts and global supply chain drivers (i.e., global final consumers and primary suppliers) at a high spatial resolution. Here we show significant spatial heterogeneity in hotspots of China's Hg-related health impacts. Approximately 1% of the land area holds only 40% of the Chinese population but nearly 70% of the fatal heart attack deaths in China. Moreover, approximately 3% of the land area holds nearly 60% of the population but 70% of the intelligence quotient (IQ) decrements. The distribution of hotspots of China's Hg-related health impacts and global supply chain drivers are influenced by various factors including population, economy, transportation, resources, and dietary intake habits. These spatially explicit hotspots can support more effective policies in various stages of the global supply chains and more effective international cooperation to reduce Hg-related health impacts. This can facilitate the successful implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Sai Liang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jianchuan Qi
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P. R. China
| | - Haifeng Zhou
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Cuiyang Feng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Xuechun Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Zhifu Mi
- The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom
| | - Zhifeng Yang
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China
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Barst BD, Hudelson K, Lescord GL, Santa-Rios A, Basu N, Crémazy A, Drevnick PE. Effects of Non-native Fish on Lacustrine Food Web Structure and Mercury Biomagnification along a Dissolved Organic Carbon Gradient. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2020; 39:2196-2207. [PMID: 32729960 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although the introduction of non-native fish species has been shown to alter trophic ecology in aquatic ecosystems, there has been limited research on how invasive species alter methylmercury (MeHg) biomagnification in lacustrine food webs. We sampled surface water and biota from 8 lakes in Quebec, Canada, spanning a range of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations (2.9-8.4 mg/L); 4 lakes were inhabited by native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and the remaining lakes contained brook trout and a non-native fish, Allegheny pearl dace (Margariscus margarita). Periphyton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish were analyzed for: 1) stable carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) isotope ratios to delineate food webs, and 2) total Hg (THg) or MeHg. Compared with the brook trout from reference lakes, fish from invaded lakes had higher length-standardized THg concentrations as well as a narrower dietary range and elevated trophic level, inferred from unadjusted δ13 C and δ15 N values, respectively. The rate of Hg biomagnification was similar across invaded and reference lakes, implying little effect of the invasive fish on the trophic transfer of MeHg. Despite differences in food web structure due to pearl dace invasion, DOC was the strongest predictor of brook trout THg levels for all lakes, suggesting that underlying environmental factors exerted a stronger influence on brook trout THg concentrations than the presence of a non-native forage fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2196-2207. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Barst
- Centre Eau Terre et Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Karista Hudelson
- Centre Eau Terre et Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gretchen L Lescord
- Vale Living with Lakes Center, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Northern Boreal Program, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Santa-Rios
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Anne Crémazy
- Centre Eau Terre et Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Paul E Drevnick
- Centre Eau Terre et Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Zaporski J, Jamison M, Zhang L, Gu B, Yang Z. Mercury methylation potential in a sand dune on Lake Michigan's eastern shoreline. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 729:138879. [PMID: 32371207 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lake Michigan hosts the largest freshwater sand dune system in the world and is economically important for the fishery industry and tourism. Due to industrial pollution and atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition, toxic levels of methylmercury (MeHg) have been found in the Lake biota, but little information is known regarding MeHg sources and Hg methylation potential in the shoreline sand dunes. We conducted anaerobic incubation experiments with beach sands collected from Ludington, Michigan, and examined the effects of organic carbon substrate addition, inorganic nitrogen, and mineral magnetite on Hg methylation. Despite nutrient poor and low-organic carbon conditions, appreciable Hg methylation activity coupled with carbon degradation was observed in the sands. Addition of acetate as a carbon source substantially increased MeHg production from 2 to 380 ng/kg sediment while acetate was rapidly degraded in the first 19 days of incubation. Ammonium addition showed little influence on carbon degradation or Hg methylation, whereas iron oxide addition (~1% dry weight) significantly inhibited both carbon degradation and MeHg production (by up to 90%), highlighting strongly coupled interactions between microbes, carbon substrates, and minerals. This research demonstrates the potential of microbial Hg methylation in the sand dunes, which may play a role in MeHg input and bioaccumulation in the Lake Michigan ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Zaporski
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
| | - Megan Jamison
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
| | - Lijie Zhang
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Baohua Gu
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Ziming Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA.
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Tang CH, Chen WY, Wu CC, Lu E, Shih WY, Chen JW, Tsai JW. Ecosystem metabolism regulates seasonal bioaccumulation of metals in atyid shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata) in a tropical brackish wetland. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 225:105522. [PMID: 32544806 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) forms the base of aquatic food webs and is a key environmental factor that affects the bioavailability of metals for aquatic organisms. Aquatic communities are naturally exposed simultaneously to environments containing a mixture of metals and varying DOM levels and compositions. However, the exact effect of DOM on metal bioaccumulation is difficult to predict due to temporal and spatial variations in sources, production, and consumption of DOM, and to interactions between DOM and metals. Ecosystem metabolism describes the process of organic carbon production and consumption and, therefore, the trophic status of ecosystems. However, whether and how ecosystem metabolism determines the seasonality of metal bioaccumulation remains unclear. The present study used in-situ water quality sondes and discrete field samplings to establish the relationship between the seasonality of ecosystem metabolism; related environmental and limnological regulators; the metal speciation and concentration in bulk water and sediments; and their metal bioaccumulation. The target population consisted of atyid shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata) in a brackish constructed wetland in tropical Taiwan was sampled between August 2014 and November 2015. Metal bioaccumulation displayed distinct seasonal patterns that peaked in summer (Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, Mn, and Se) or winter (Pb and Ni). The in situ production (gross primary production) and heterotrophic consumption (ecosystem respiration) of organic matter significantly decreased with increasing waterborne DOM levels in this heterotrophic wetland. Both dissolved free metals bioavailable for respiratory surfaces (As, Zn, Cu, and Cr) and insoluble metals available for dietary intake (Mn and Ni) decreased with increasing DOM, as well as with decreasing gross primary production and ecosystem respiration. Seasonal variations of metal bioaccumulation also paralleled the transition in wetland trophic status, which reflected the effect of potential qualitative changes in the wetland DOM pool. Bioaccumulation of most metals displayed strong correlations with gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, and wetland trophic status. Our findings demonstrated that ecosystem metabolism can play a key mediating role in the seasonality of metal bioaccumulation in atyid shrimp, as it links the variation and interaction between DOM level/source, the speciation/bioavailability, and the uptake efficiency for metals by aquatic organisms. This study contributes to the temporal-specific risk assessment of aquatic metal exposure in regional environmental settings. It also reveals ecosystem-specific spectra in the context of changes in climate and environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hao Tang
- Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Road, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Ching Wu
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, No.91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Ezekiel Lu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, No.91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Yu Shih
- Department of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of Education, No. 140, Minsheng Rd., Taichung 403, Taiwan
| | - Jein-Wen Chen
- Department of Food and Beverage Management, Cheng-Shiu University, No. 840, Chengcing Road, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan; Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng-Shiu University, No. 840, Chengcing Road, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan; Super Micro Mass Research and Technology Center, Cheng-Shiu University, No. 840, Chengcing Road, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan
| | - Jeng-Wei Tsai
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, No.91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
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Shahid M, Khalid S, Bibi I, Bundschuh J, Khan Niazi N, Dumat C. A critical review of mercury speciation, bioavailability, toxicity and detoxification in soil-plant environment: Ecotoxicology and health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:134749. [PMID: 32000322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by a non-essential and non-beneficial, although potentially toxic mercury (Hg), is becoming a great threat to the living organisms at a global scale. Owing to its various uses in numerous industrial processes, high amount of Hg is released into different environmental compartments. Environmental Hg contamination can result in food chain contamination, especially due to its accumulation in edible plant parts. Consumption of Hg-rich food is a key source of Hg exposure to humans. Since Hg does not possess any identified biological role and has genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, it is critical to monitor its biogeochemical behavior in the soil-plant system and its influence in terms of possible food chain contamination and human exposure. This review traces a plausible link among Hg levels, its chemical speciation and phytoavailability in soil, accumulation in plants, phytotoxicity and detoxification of Hg inside the plant. The role of different enzymatic (peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (glutathione, phytochelatins, proline and ascorbic acid) antioxidants has also been elucidated with respect to enhanced generation of reactive radicles and resulting oxidative stress. The review also outlines Hg build-up in edible plant tissues and associated health risks. The biogeochemical role of Hg in the soil-plant system and associated health risks have been described with well summarized and up-to-date data in 12 tables and 4 figures. We believe that this comprehensive review article and meta-analysis of Hg data can be greatly valuable for scientists, researchers, policymakers and graduate-level students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan.
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan
| | - Irshad Bibi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Camille Dumat
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), UMR5044, Université J. Jaurès - Toulouse II, 5 allée Machado A., 31058 Toulouse, cedex 9, France; Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Auzeville-Tolosane, France; Association Réseau-Agriville (http://reseau-agriville.com/), France
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46
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Eccles KM, Thomas PJ, Chan HM. Relationships between mercury concentrations in fur and stomach contents of river otter (Lontra canadensis) and mink (Neovison vison) in Northern Alberta Canada and their applications as proxies for environmental factors determining mercury bioavailability. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 181:108961. [PMID: 31806289 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The fur of piscivorous animals such as river otter (Lontra canadensis) and mink (Neovison vison) has been proposed to be used as a biomarker medium to assess mercury (Hg) exposure, but the relationship with dietary and environmental Hg exposure has not been fully characterized. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between fur total mercury (THg) and stomach content THg in river otter and mink, and their relationships with environmental factors. THg concentrations were measured in fur and stomach contents of river otter (n = 35) and mink (n = 30) collected from northern Alberta, Canada between 2014 and 2017. The fur THg concentration (mean ± standard deviation) was 6.36 ± 4.12 μg/g fur weight and 5.25 ± 3.50 μg/g fur weight and the average stomach content THg was 0.95 ± 0.56 μg/g dry weight and 0.71 ± 0.54 μg/g dry weight in river otter and mink respectively. There was a positive relationship between the log fur THg and log stomach contents THg for both species (p < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between the log THg of stomach contents and the percent of deciduous forest and a negative relationship with soil pH. There was a positive relationship between the log THg of fur and the total area burned by forest fire and a negative relationship with the percentage of wetlands. These results provide field evidence that fur can be used to reflect dietary Hg exposure and to identify sources and environmental factors that affect the bioavailable Hg in the habitats of these wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Eccles
- Department of Biology, Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Ottawa, 180, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Philippe J Thomas
- Department of Biology, Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Ottawa, 180, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada; Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Center, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Raven Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Ottawa, 180, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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Knott KK, O'Hearn R, Niswonger D, Lawson L, North R, Obrecht D, Tracy-Smith E, Voss R, Wenzel J, McKee M. Physical, Chemical, and Biological Factors that Contribute to the Variability of Mercury Concentrations in Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides from Missouri Reservoirs. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 78:284-293. [PMID: 31858198 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00697-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Large-bodied predatory sportfish from Missouri reservoirs can contain elevated methylmercury concentrations that are of concern to the health of consumers. The concentration of total mercury (tHg) in the muscle (which > 95% is in the methylated-Hg form) of harvestable-sized largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides; LMB) was examined to determine which factors contributed to the variability of tHg concentration in sportfish populations among Missouri reservoirs. Mean tHg concentrations in LMB from each reservoir were compared to physical and chemical characteristics of the reservoir and to biological attributes of each LMB population. Low concentrations of tHg (70-170 ng/g wet weight) in LMB from large reservoirs (surface area ≥ 35,680 acres) were likely related to the dilution of chemical Hg forms with water volume and depth. The highest tHg concentrations in LMB (268-542 ng/g) were from reservoirs with low particulate inorganic material (< 1.5 mg/L) and chlorophyll a concentrations (< 14.6 μg/L), and from LMB populations with a low proportion of large fish (proportional size distribution of LMB > 12 inches was < 33%). These relationships suggest that resource competition among LMB likely contributed to tHg bioaccumulation in reservoirs < 930 acres. Small reservoirs located in northern Missouri also may have greater methylation potential due to warmer water temperatures and anoxic conditions, but more data are needed to confirm these interactions. Fish consumption advisories for reservoirs with large surface area and volume could be reduced from one fish meal per month to one per week. To improve Missouri fisheries and protect consumers, management strategies to limit methylation and improve fish growth should be considered to reduce methylmercury bioaccumulation in small- and medium-sized reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina K Knott
- Environmental Health Unit, Resource Science Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Rebecca O'Hearn
- Environmental Health Unit, Resource Science Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Darby Niswonger
- Fisheries Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Larry Lawson
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO, USA
- E.W. Shell Fisheries Station, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, 2101 N. College St., Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Rebecca North
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Anheuser-Bush Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dan Obrecht
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Anheuser-Bush Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Emily Tracy-Smith
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Anheuser-Bush Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert Voss
- Water Protection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO, USA
| | - Jeff Wenzel
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO, USA
| | - Mike McKee
- Environmental Health Unit, Resource Science Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, USA
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48
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Klapstein SJ, Walker AK, Saunders CH, Cameron RP, Murimboh JD, O'Driscoll NJ. Spatial distribution of mercury and other potentially toxic elements using epiphytic lichens in Nova Scotia. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 241:125064. [PMID: 31683434 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The use of naturally occurring epiphytic lichens can be an effective tool for regional monitoring of mercury (Hg) and other potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Nova Scotia, Canada is a hotspot for mercury and other trace metal accumulation in ecosystems; partially attributed to long-range transport of air pollution. The relative contribution of local and international sources of Hg to local air in Nova Scotia is unknown. This study assessed the potential of epiphytic lichens (Usnea spp.) as passive samplers for PTE air pollution in Nova Scotia. Lichens (n = 190) collected across mainland Nova Scotia were analyzed for PTEs. Results indicate that there are 3 distinct clusters of PTEs which suggest patterns and sources for each elemental cluster. Hg was correlated with longitude and prevailing wind direction, and Hg was not significantly different in site-specific hotspot sampling nor year of sampling. Our data support the hypothesis that Hg in lichens is from historical and ongoing long-range transport and diffuse emission patterns rather than localized pollution sources. PTE concentrations were shown to have median values that are similar to other remote regions (such as the Antarctic) however the maximum values were observed to be substantially higher for some elements (e.g. lead, cadmium). This research supports the use of lichens as biomonitors and provides a baseline for future monitoring efforts to identify changes in PTE distribution in Nova Scotia with ongoing industrial activity and a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara J Klapstein
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada.
| | - Allison K Walker
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | | | - Robert P Cameron
- Nova Scotia Department of Environment, Protected Areas Branch, Canada
| | - John D Murimboh
- Chemistry Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
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49
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Yin D, Wang Y, Xiang Y, Xu Q, Xie Q, Zhang C, Liu J, Wang D. Production and migration of methylmercury in water-level-fluctuating zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China: Dual roles of flooding-tolerant perennial herb. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 381:120962. [PMID: 31442691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.120962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Water-level-fluctuating zone (WLFZ) is a prevalent water-land ecotone favorable for mercury (Hg) methylation. The succession of flooding tolerance plants in WLFZ gradually changes the landscape, and also brings a new question worth understanding whether these plants would enhance methylmercury (MeHg) production in WLFZ and increase risks to the aquatic environment. Given bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L). Pers) as the dominant perennial herb with high flooding-tolerance in WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), we conducted a comprehensive study to investigate its roles in the production and migration of MeHg in WLFZ by field observations and stable isotope tracer experiments. Results showed that both elevated MeHg levels and Hg methylation rates appeared in soil/sediment in bermudagrass growing area, implying that the growth of bermudagrass could significantly enhance MeHg production. However, MeHg migration from sediment to water was restricted during the flooding period of the TGR, as obviously higher partitioning coefficients of MeHg between the sediment and porewater (p < 0.05) and lower MeHg release fluxes were observed in vegetated area, indicating that the presence of bermudagrass instead probably decreased the water MeHg level. Whereas, it is noteworthy that elevated MeHg in soil/sediment induced by the bermudagrass could pose potential risks to the benthos and further to the TGR food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deliang Yin
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yongmin Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Yuping Xiang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qinqin Xu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qing Xie
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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50
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Cao L, Liu J, Dou S, Huang W. Biomagnification of methylmercury in a marine food web in Laizhou Bay (North China) and associated potential risks to public health. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110762. [PMID: 31784261 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were assessed in water, sediment and biota (54 species) samples from the coast of Laizhou Bay, to evaluate MeHg biomagnification in Laizhou Bay food web. The trophic web structure was determined with stable isotope ratios. The MeHg concentrations were highly variable among species ranged from 4.8 ng g-1 in primary producers to 411.2 ng g-1 in spotted sea bass. Weight and ecotype were the principal parameters related to the mercury concentrations for most species. The trophic magnification factors (TMFs) for MeHg and THg were 2.09 and 1.69, respectively, indicating that mercury biomagnification is occurring in this marine food web. The estimated weekly intake (EWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) values demonstrated that consuming predatory fishes from the bay could cause potential health risks to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jinhu Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Shuozeng Dou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou, China.
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