Mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in fish from the coastal lagoon of Orbetello, central Italy

Miniero, Roberto; Beccaloni, Eleonora; Carere, Mario; Ubaldi, A.; Mancini, Laura; Marchegiani, S.; Cicero, Maria Rita; Scenati, Raffaele; Lucchetti, Dario; Ziemacki, Giovanni; Felip, Elena De

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.012

Cited by 27 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the difference in heavy metal accumulation does not apparently depend on fish size, emphasizing the significance of feeding patterns in heavy metal accumulation, according to what was reported in literature [16]. Our findings seem to be in contrast to what was found by Naccari et al (2015) [10] for fish samples collected from different areas of Sicily, which was a different trend in metal contamination among pelagic, benthic, and demersal species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Mercury Detection in Benthic and Pelagic Fish Collected from Western Sicily (Southern Italy)

Cammilleri

Galluzzo

Fazio

et al. 2019

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Simple SummaryIn highly polluted water, fish can accumulate Hg at concentrations that cause risk to human health. This has occurred in Sicily (Southern Italy), where there is activity from the petrochemical pole. In this paper, we present concentrations of mercury in 14 fish species collected from western Sicilian coasts in 2013. A significant difference was found between fish species examined but not between pelagic and benthic fish. Four out of 130 analyzed samples showed mercury concentrations over the European limits.AbstractIn highly polluted water, fish can accumulate mercury up to a concentration of 10 mgKg−1. This has occurred on the eastern coasts of Sicily (Southern Italy), probably due to the intense industrial activity of this area. However, little is known about Hg accumulation in fish of the western Sicilian coasts. In this work, we examined the Hg accumulation of 108 fish samples belonging to 14 species collected from western Sicilian coasts using a direct mercury analyzer. The samples showed a mean mercury concentration of 0.165 ± 0.22 mg kg−1 with a maximum in Lepidopus caudatus (1.72 mgKg−1), exceeding the limits provided by EC Reg. 1881/2006. The lowest Hg levels were found in Sparus aurata samples (0.001 mgKg−1). A significant difference was found between the fish species examined (p < 0.05). The comparison between benthic and pelagic species did not show statistical differences (p < 0.05). Fish food constitutes the main route of Hg uptake for humans. Only four of the 130 samples examined reached a mercury concentration over the European limits. The comparative analysis of Hg pollution for benthic and pelagic species did not confirm a different trend in metal contamination.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Mercury Detection in Benthic and Pelagic Fish Collected from Western Sicily (Southern Italy)

Cammilleri

Galluzzo

Fazio

et al. 2019

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In a lagoon ecosystem, sediments represent a source of contamination by methylmercury for both water and biota [74,75,76]. Total mercury and methylmercury were quantified in several specimens of fish of human interest [77]. Relationships among organic matter composition in sediments and methylmercury production in high reductive ecosystems are reported by the literature, supporting the need to monitor a wider range of variables in sediments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediterranean Coastal Lagoons: The Importance of Monitoring in Sediments the Biochemical Composition of Organic Matter

Renzi¹,

Provenza²,

Pignattelli³

et al. 2019

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Transitional water ecosystems are targeted by the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD, CE 2000/60) monitoring programs in coastal zones. Concerning sediments, activities performed for the WFD focus on a few variables concerning the biochemical composition of organic matter. Our research reports the effects of oxygen availability on the biochemical composition of organic matter in sediments to highlight levels of targeted variables in time and, according to the depth of sediment layer, both under oxygenated and anoxic conditions in a mesocosm study on sediment cores. Results provide evidence that tested factors of interest (i.e., disturbance type, oxygenic versus anoxic conditions; persistence time of disturbance, 0–14 days; penetration through sedimentary layers, 0–10 cm depth) are able to significantly affect the biochemical composition of organic matter in sediments. Large part of the variables considered in this study (total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphorous (TP), total sulphur (TS), Fe, carbohydrates (CHO), total proteins (PRT), biopolymeric carbon (BPC), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) are significantly affected and correlated to the oxygenation levels and could be good early indicators of important changes of environmental conditions. Monitoring activities performed under WFD guidelines and management strategies of Mediterranean coastal lagoon ecosystems shall include the biochemical composition of organic matter in sediment to provide an exhaustive picture of such dynamic ecosystems.

show abstract

“…Additional investigations, carried out from 2004 to 2006 on biological matrices (macroalgae, phanerogams, crustaceans, fish, and mollusks), showed high Hg concentrations mainly in the East lagoon, exceeding in some cases the regulatory limits for food consumption (ARPAT, 2007). A specific study carried out on the total mercury (Hg tot ) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in two fish species (Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata) from the East basin highlighted that approximately 90% of the concentrations measured exceeded Hg tot regulatory maximum level of 0.5 mg kg −1 w.w. (Miniero et al, 2013).…”

Section: Orbetello (Tuscany)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Status of Italian Coastal Marine Areas Affected by Long History of Contamination

Ausili

Bergamin

Romano

2020

Front. Environ. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the first decades of 2000s, several Italian sites affected by strong anthropogenic impact were recognized as Sites of National Interest (SINs) for a successive reclamation project, some of which also including marine sectors. These coastal areas are characterized by high complexity and diversity as regards the natural setting as well as for extent, history, type, and degree of contamination. For this, the Italian Ministry of Environment charged its scientific research Institute (earlier ICRAM, now ISPRA) with planning a flexible, adaptable, and large-scale environmental characterization. In this context, the investigation of marine sediments was identified as the primary target to assess the environmental status, because of their conservative capacity with respect to contaminants and their role in the exchange processes with other environmental matrices, such as water column and aquatic organisms. A multidisciplinary, chemicalphysical, and ecotoxicological survey was identified as the most appropriate and objective criterion for assessing the sediment quality associated, when necessary, with integrative studies. The results derived from this multidisciplinary approach highlighted the main sources of contamination, together with size and extent of the environmental impact on the coastal marine areas, strictly correlated with the kind of anthropogenic activities and coastal morphology. In order to underline how the different environmental setting influences the degree of anthropogenic impact, four different case studies, selected among the more complex by geochemical and geomorphological viewpoints and more extensively studied, were considered. A comprehensive evaluation of these case studies allowed to deduce some general principles concerning the effects of anthropogenic impact, which can be applicable to other transitional and marine coastal areas.

show abstract

Mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in fish from the coastal lagoon of Orbetello, central Italy

Cited by 27 publications

References 14 publications

Mercury Detection in Benthic and Pelagic Fish Collected from Western Sicily (Southern Italy)

Mercury Detection in Benthic and Pelagic Fish Collected from Western Sicily (Southern Italy)

Mediterranean Coastal Lagoons: The Importance of Monitoring in Sediments the Biochemical Composition of Organic Matter

Environmental Status of Italian Coastal Marine Areas Affected by Long History of Contamination

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About