Total Mercury Concentrations In Fish Research Articles

Total mercury concentrations in fish from Urrá reservoir (Sinú river, Colombia). Six years of monitoring

ABSTRACTObjective. The aim of this study was to monitor the total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations in fish from the Urrá reservoir, after impoundment. Materials and methods. Five fish species at different trophic levels were sampled from 2004 to 2009 and analyzed by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy for T-Hg concentrations in muscle tissue. Water quality parameters were evaluated. Results. The highest (1.39±0.69 μg/g ww) and lowest (0.15±0.02 μg/g ww) T-Hg concentrations were detected in Hoplias malabaricus (piscivorous) and Cyphocharax magdalenae (iliophagous/detritivorous) respectively, whereas Leporinus muyscorum (omnivorous) had an intermediate level (0.40±0.11 μg/g ww). The organic matter content in the water increased with time and depth, whereas dissolved oxygen and pH decreased. A covariance analysis (with fish length as a covariate) shows a steady increase of T-Hg levels in all the studied species after impoundment. Conclusions. The T-Hg concentrations in the evaluated fish species, increased after impoundment. The water quality variables showed conditions favoring Hg methylation and its biomagnification, this last was evident in the fish food chain of the reservoir.

Mercury in fish and adverse reproductive outcomes: results from South Carolina.

BackgroundMercury is a metal with widespread distribution in aquatic ecosystems and significant neurodevelopmental toxicity in humans. Fish biomonitoring for total mercury has been conducted in South Carolina (SC) since 1976, and consumption advisories have been posted for many SC waterways. However, there is limited information on the potential reproductive impacts of mercury due to recreational or subsistence fish consumption.MethodsTo address this issue, geocoded residential locations for live births from the Vital Statistics Registry (1995–2005, N = 362,625) were linked with spatially interpolated total mercury concentrations in fish to estimate potential mercury exposure from consumption of locally caught fish. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the hypothesis that risk of low birth weight (LBW, <2,500 grams) or preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks clinical gestation) was greater among women living in areas with elevated total mercury in fish, after adjustment for confounding. Separate analyses estimated term LBW and PTB risks using residential proximity to rivers with fish consumption advisories to characterize exposure.ResultsTerm LBW was more likely among women residing in areas in the upper quartile of predicted total mercury in fish (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.09) or within 8 kilometers of a river with a ‘do not eat’ fish advisory (1.05; 1.00-1.11) compared to the lowest quartile, or rivers without fish consumption restrictions, respectively. When stratified by race, risks for term LBW or PTB were 10-18% more likely among African-American (AA) mothers living in areas with the highest total fish mercury concentrations.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between fish total mercury concentrations and adverse reproductive outcomes in a large population-based sample that included AA women. The ecologic nature of exposure assessment in this study precludes causal inference. However, the results suggest a need for more detailed investigations to characterize patterns of local fish consumption and potential dose–response relationships between mercury exposure and adverse reproductive outcomes, particularly among AA mothers.

三峡水库蓄水初期鱼体汞含量及其水生食物链累积特征

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 三峡水库蓄水初期鱼体汞含量及其水生食物链累积特征 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201211091568 作者: 作者单位: 中国水利水电科学研究院水环境所,中国水利水电科学研究院水环境所,中国水利水电科学研究院水环境所,中国水利水电科学研究院水环境所,中国水利水电科学研究院水环境所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金资助项目(51179205);国家水体污染控制与治理科技专项三峡水库水环境演化与安全问题诊断研究课题(2009ZX07104-001) Mercury contents in fish and its biomagnification in the food web in Three Gorges Reservoir after 175m impoundment Author: Affiliation: Department of Water Environment,China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research,Department of Water Environment,China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research,Department of Water Environment,China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research,Department of Water Environment,China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research,Department of Water Environment,China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:于2011-2012年在三峡库区干流水域及7条典型支流采集了11种鱼类样品,以稳定同位素(δ13C和δ15N)营养等级分析为基础,研究了三峡水库蓄水后的鱼类汞含量水平及其食物链累积特征。结果表明,库区鱼类(以鲤为例)平均总汞含量为57.1 μg/kg,与蓄水前鱼体总汞水平相当,但在库区不同水域鱼体总汞含量差异显著:干流入库水域(洛碛断面)鱼体总汞含量平均值为88.0μg/kg,显著高于水库腹区水域(巫山断面)的平均值43.1μg/kg。稳定同位素分析表明,库区支流鱼体的δ13C范围为-22.08‰--28.92‰,大于干流鱼体的δ13C范围(-23.11‰--26.87‰),表明支流鱼类的食物来源具有更明显的湖沼型特征。同时,支流鱼类食物链上汞的累积放大效率显著高于干流水域。水文水动力差异可能是库区内汞累积等生态过程存在空间差异的重要原因。 Abstract:Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is a giant canyon-shaped reservoir located in the lower section of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. After impoundment, hydrological signatures, chemical factors and species composition, had been greatly changed in TGR. The new environmental conditions could increase methylmercury (MeHg) production, and induce substantial increase of mercury concentration in the predator fish through food chain biomagnification. Concern about human consumption of fish contaminated with MeHg had been raised even before the construction of TGR. This study tried to investigate the total mercury concentrations in fish and biomagnification characters of mercury along food chains in TGR after 175m impoundment. The stable isotope analysis could be a useful method of checking and evaluating the trophic conditions of aquatic ecology. We collected eleven fish species from three main stem sections and seven typical tributaries of TGR from 2011 to 2012. Carp (Cyprinus carpio) was selected as a typical species to investigate the spatial distribution of mercury level in fish from TGR. Total mercury concentrations and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of all fish samples were determined. Result showed that mercury concentrations in fishes from TGR had not obviously increased after impoundment. The carp mercury concentrations in TGR were comparable to values reported for other areas of Yangtze River Basin. But spatial difference was found among different sections of main stem. Due to the enhanced sediment deposition along reservoir, there was a decreasing trend of mercury concentration in fish from upper stream to lower stream within TGR. Mercury concentrations in the fishes from Luoqi in up area of reservoir (88.0μg/kg, average) was significantly higher than those from Wushan in middle area of reservoir (43.1μg/kg, average) and tributaries (57.1μg/kg, average). The mercury concentrations in fish from tributaries were comparable to those from main stem, and there were no significant difference among most tributaries. Based on the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and total mercury contents in eleven species fish, the biomagnification power of mercury in two sections and one tributary were evaluated. While log-transformed mercury contents were consistently correlated with δ15N values for the fish food web in all sampling sites, the slope of the relationship with δ15N (biomagnification power value) was significant higher in Shennong River than that in Wanzhou and Wushan section. This indicated that biomagnification power of mercury is greater in tributary than in main stem of TGR. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis also indicate a difference in food source of fishes between tributary and main stem. In tributary (Shennong River), the values of fish samples were-22.08‰--28.92‰ for δ13C and 8.26‰-13.15‰ for δ15N; In main stem, the values of fish samples were-23.11‰--26.87‰ for δ13C and 8.95‰-16.98‰ for δ15N. This indicate fishes in tributary rely more on pelagic primary production while those in main stem tend to take allochthonous materials carried by runoff. In conclusion, the body type of tributary and main stem after impoundment could be different, and this may be an important reason of different mercury bioaccumulation between tributary and main stem within TGR. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Distribution of mercury in water, sediment and fish from the Volta lake and its major tributaries

Concentrations of total mercury and methyl mercury were determined in fish and sediment from the waters of the Volta Lake and its main tributaries to understand their distribution in the ecosystem. Total mercury concentrations in fish ranged from 2.11to 355.16 (mean: 75.64) ng/g wet wt. Methyl mercury concentration ranged from 1.77 to 319.48 (mean: 68.44) ng/g wet wt and accounted for, on the average 90% of the total mercury in the muscles of the fish. Methyl mercury concentrations in fish were directly proportional to total mercury concentrations with average correlation coefficient of r = 0.98. The relationship of total mercury and methyl mercury concentrations in fish to those of sediments from corresponding locations was fish-species dependent. Concentrations of total mercury in sediment ranged from 0.96 to 700.25 ng/g dry wt. which is lower than the IAEA threshold of 810ng/g. Water samples from the main tributaries of the Volta and the Volta Lake showed total mercury concentrations of 0.0027 to 0.0862 ng/L and methylmercury concentrations of 0.0004 to 0.0259 ng/L. The methylmercury concentrations accounted for 13.2 to 35.0% of total mercury in the water samples. The results of this study indicate that mean total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in fish increase with increase in trophic level of fish. All the fish samples obtained from the Volta and its major tributaries had mercury concentrations below the WHO/FAO recommended limit of 500 ng/g wet weight. The low levels of mercury in the fish analyzed in this study suggest a comparatively clean aquatic environment which has not yet been impacted by mercury contamination.

Mercury concentration in the muscle of seven fish species from Chagan Lake, Northeast China

Chagan Lake is located downstream of the Second Songhua River basin in Northeast China. It is one of the top ten inland freshwater lakes, and an important aquatic farm in China. The lake has been receiving large amounts (currently at 1.5 × 10(8) m(3)/a) of water from the river since 1984. This would pose a threat to the aquatic system of the lake because the river was seriously polluted with mercury in 1970s-1980s. The current study is the first to report the total mercury concentrations in fish found in the lake. Mercury concentrations in seven fish species collected from the lake in January 2009 were determined. The related human health risk from fish consumption was also assessed. The average concentration of mercury in the fish was 18.8 μg/kg of wet weight, ranging from 4.5 to 37.6 μg/kg of wet weight. A large difference in the mercury concentrations among the fish species was found. The mercury concentration was found to be higher in carnivorous species and lower in omnivorous and herbivorous species. This demonstrates greater mercury bioaccumulation in fish species at higher trophic levels. Mercury concentrations in fish showed significant positive correlations with age, length, and weight. No significant relationship was found between mercury concentrations in fish and the habitat preferences. Mercury concentrations in fish from the lake were within the limits of the international and national standards of China established for mercury. According to the reference doses established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the maximum safe consuming quantity considering all the fish was 297.3 g/day/person, which was more than five times as much as the current quantity (50 g/day/person) consumed by the local residents. This investigation indicates that the historical pollution of the Second Songhua River has not caused mercury bioaccumulation in fish muscle tissue of Chagan Lake. The present consumption of fish from the lake in the local area does not pose a threat to human health.

Assessment of Mercury Contamination in the Kahayan River, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

From 2004 to 2007 we studied the contamination of the Kahayan and Rungan Rivers in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, by mercury used in the processing of mined gold. Water, sediments and fish species were collected from both rivers. Total mercury concentration was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). In the Kahayan River and its tributaries, the highest total mercury concentration in water samples was 2260 ng/l. In sediment samples, the concentration ranged from 0.002 to 0.095 ng/mg dry wt. In the Rungan River, the total mercury concentration in water samples ranged from 16 to 117 ng/l and in sediment samples from 0.003 to 0.253 ng/mg dry wt. The highest total mercury concentration in a water sample came from a tributary of the Kahayan River; the level was higher than Indonesia's drinking water standard for total mercury (1000 ng/l). However, total mercury concentrations in water samples from both main rivers were lower than the standard. The sediment sample mercury concentrations from both rivers were lower than the USEPA quality guideline. Total mercury concentrations in fish obtained from both rivers ranged from 0.02 to 0.48 ng/mg wet wt. Mystus nemurus had a total mercury concentration close to the USEPA guideline value for fish for human consumption.

A summary of total mercury concentrations in flora and fauna near common contaminant sources in the Gulf of Mexico

Total mercury concentrations are summarized for environmental media and biota collected from near-coastal areas, several impacted by contaminant sources common to the Gulf of Mexico. Water, sediment, fish, blue crabs, oysters, clams, mussels, periphyton and seagrasses were collected during 1993–2002 from targeted areas affected by point and non-point source contaminants. Mean concentrations in water and sediment were 0.02 (±1 standard deviation = 0.06) μg l −1 and 96.3 (230.8) ng g −1 dry wt, respectively. Mean total mercury concentrations in fish, blue crabs, brackish clams and mussels were significantly greater than those in sediment, seagrass, colonized periphyton and oysters. Concentrations (ng g −1 dry wt) averaged 23.1 (two seagrass species), 220.1 (oysters), 287.8 (colonized periphyton), 604.0 (four species of freshwater mussels), 772.4 (brackish clam), 857.9 (blue crabs) and 933.1 (nine fish species). Spatial, intraspecific and interspecific variability in results limited most generalizations concerning the relative mercury contributions of different stressor types. However, concentrations were significantly greater for some biota collected from areas receiving wastewater discharges and golf course runoff (fish), agricultural runoff (oysters) and urban stormwater runoff (colonized periphyton and sediment). Marine water quality criteria and proposed sediment quality guidelines were exceeded in 1–12% of total samples. At least one seafood consumption guideline, criteria or screening value were exceeded in edible tissues of blue crabs (6% total samples) and nine fish species (8–33% total samples) but all residues were less than the US Federal Drug Administration action limit of 1.0 ppm and the few reported toxic effect concentrations available for the targeted biota.

過去２６年間に亘る水俣湾生息魚の総水銀濃度に関する変化

The Government of Kumamoto Prefecture declared, on July 29, 1997, that the fish and shellfish of Minamata Bay, which had been polluted by mercury discharged from the Chisso plant, had returned to a safe edible state. Simultaneously, the net which had been installed to prevent expansion of mercury pollution was removed from Minamata Bay. In the present paper, the results of the total mercury concentrations in fish caught in Minamata Bay between 1978 and the present are reported. In particular-ly, given the abundance of 3 fish species (smelt-whiting, rock fish, wrasses) captured during sampling, these species were used as indicators to evaluate the state of mercury pollution in Minamata Bay. Moreover, in order to understand the characteristics, the analytical data obtained on total mercury concentrations were distinguished into 3 periods using key events in the history of mercury pollution in Minamata Bay. The first period is the time until the completion of dredgeing in the bay. The second period is from the completion of dredging (March, 1990) until the removal of the net in the bay. The third period is from the removal of the net in Minamata Bay to the present. As a result, in the present report, the total mercury concentration in fish is thought to have gradually decreased. However, fish with total mercury concentration exceeding the safety threshold ware found after the completion of dredging of Minamata Bay. The total mercury concentrations in wrasses, rock fish and smelt whiting respectively ware as follows: the first period (dredging and landfill term: 1978-1989): 0.46. 0.71 and 0.79μg·g-1 (avg); the second period (net-closure term: 1990-1997): 0.55, 0.59 and 0.95μg·g-1 (avg); the third period (after net removal: 1998-2004): 0.17, 0.37 and 0.42μg·g-1 (avg). This trend is predicted to continue in the future.

Total mercury concentrations in lakes and fish of western Maryland, USA.

The purpose of this study was to quantify total mercury concentrations in three species of fish in three lakes of western Maryland: Piney Creek reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Lake Habeeb. We measured total mercury concentrations in water from each lake and muscle tissue from 119 fish collected in fall 2000: 15 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 15 yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and 15 bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from the Piney Creek reservoir; 15 largemouth bass, 15 yellow perch, and 14 bluegill from Deep Creek Lake; and 15 largemouth bass and 15 bluegill from Lake Habeeb. Average total mercury concentrations (+/- SD) in surface waters were 0.96 +/- 0.03 ng L(-1) for the Piney Creek reservoir, 0.56 +/- 0.07 ng L(-1) for Deep Creek Lake, and 0.40 +/- 0.05 ng L(-1) for Lake Habeeb. These water quality differences were sometimes reflected in the total mercury concentration in fish muscle tissue. Total mercury concentrations in bluegill (0.05 +/- 0.02 microg g(-1)) and largemouth bass (0.10 +/- 0.03 microg g(-1)) from Lake Habeeb were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than the total mercury concentrations in bluegill and largemouth bass from the Piney Creek reservoir (bluegill: 0.13 +/- 0.04 microg g(-1) and largemouth bass: 0.37 +/- 0.18 microg g(-1)) and Deep Creek Lake (bluegill: 0.11 +/- 0.04 microg g(-1) and largemouth bass: 0.30 +/- 0.09 microg g(-1)). Yellow perch from the Piney Creek reservoir had significantly higher total mercury concentrations than yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake (0.20 +/- 0.08 microg g(-1) versus 0.13 +/- 0.04 microg g(-1)). In contrast, total mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake were not significantly different. With the exception of largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb and yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake, there were relatively strong (r(2) > 0.39-0.79) log-log relationships between the size (weight and length) of the fish and total mercury concentrations in muscle tissue. The largest largemouth bass (> 800 g and > 38 cm) from both Deep Creek Lake and the Piney Creek reservoir had total mercury concentrations that exceeded the consumption advisory of 0.5 microg g(-1) that is used by many states and Canada. In contrast, total mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb did not exceed this consumption advisory. Our results suggest that fish consumption advisories are needed for largemouth bass in the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake.

Evaluation of total mercury concentrations in fish consumed in the municipality of Itaituba, Tapajós River Basin, Pará, Brazil

The environmental exposure to mercury by riverine and Indian communities can occur through the ingestion of fish and products contaminated by mercury compounds. The present study aims to evaluate the total mercury concentration in the different fish species most consumed in the municipality of Itaituba, Tapajós river basin, where there are intense gold-mining activities. These fish samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry by cold vapor technique, Automatic Mercury Analyzer HG-3500. The largest mercury concentrations were found in the carnivorous species ranging from 112.4 to 2250 μg/g, while the detritivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous species presented total mercury levels ranging from 3.2 to 309.8 μg/g, which is below the limit established by the World Health Organization. This paper also reports and identifies which species are more polluted and present a statistical relationship among concentration and weight of the carnivorous species studied in detail, Brachyplatystoma flavicans (dourada) ( r 2=0.691) and Pseudoplatystoma sp. (surubim) ( r 2=0.654).

Organic and inorganic mercury in the food chain of some lakes and reservoirs in Finland

Contents of organic and inorganic mercury in food chain specimens, as well as sedimentation in two natural Finnish lakes and three impounded reservoirs, were studied. The proportion of organic mercury of total mercury varied in individual specimens from 32.7 to 100 %. Sedimentation (settleable solid) with very high contents of organic matter had ratios of organic to total mercury ranging from 2.4 to 87.3 %. These variations were similar in each of five water ecosystems studied. Benthic invertebrates had higher ratios of organic to total mercury than reported earlier. Total mercury concentrations in fish, zoobenthos and zooplankton of young impounded reservoirs were significantly higher than those of natural lakes. To explain this it is suggested that humic materials transfer mercury to the water and thence into the food chain.