Arsenic in stream waters is bioaccumulated but neither biomagnified through food webs nor biodispersed to land

Hepp, Luiz Ubiratan; Pratas, João; Graça, Manuel A. S.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.01.035

Cited by 28 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The Se:Hg molar ratios observed at Kissimmee and Trafford may offer some protection to the hunters consuming alligators from those locations, relative to the Se:Hg molar ratio observed in Everglades alligators. Based on the results of this study, the Pb exposure hunters may experience from alligator consumption is unpredictable, and the bioaccumulation of Cd and As could be detrimental if exposure is consistent (Hepp et al, 2017; Cardwell et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators

Nilsen

Bowden

Rainwater

et al. 2019

Environment International

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Toxic trace element exposure occurs through release of the ubiquitous and naturally occurring elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). The unique environmental conditions of the wetland ecosystems along the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States lead to the accumulation of Hg which is greater than in most other ecosystems in the country. There are also point sources of As, Cd, and Pb in this region. To effectively monitor trace element concentrations, and consequently the potential human exposure, accessible local sentinel species are needed. In this study, concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Hg and six other trace elements (Al, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo) were examined in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from seven wetland sites in South Carolina and Florida and assessed for their utility as a sentinel species for human trace element exposure. Alligators were chosen as a potential sentinel as they share a common exposure with the local human population through their aquatic diet, and they are directly consumed commercially and through recreation hunting in this region. Sex was significantly related to the concentration of Zn, Mo, and Al, but not As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, or Cu. Site specific differences in element concentrations were observed for As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, Zn, and Mo. Size/age was significantly related to the element Hg and Pb concentrations observed. The observed concentration ranges for the four toxic elements, As (6–156 ng/g), Cd (0.3–1.3 ng/g), Pb (3–4872 ng/g), and Hg (39–2765 ng/g), were comparable to those previously reported in diverse human populations. In this region alligators are hunted recreationally and consumed by the local community, making them a vehicle of direct human toxic element exposure. We propose that the similarity in As, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations between alligators observed in this study and humans underscores how alligators can serve as a useful sentinel species for toxic element exposure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators

Nilsen

Bowden

Rainwater

et al. 2019

Environment International

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“…Factors in column 1 are defined and reviewed in the text and in Supporting Information, Table S3. 1, Anderson et al, 1973; 2, Maelfait and Hendrickx, 1998; 3, Torres and Johnson, 2001; 4, Du Laing et al, 2002; 5, Tojal et al, 2002; 6, Hendrickx et al, 2004; 7, Cristol et al, 2008; 8, Schipper et al, 2008; 9, Walters et al, 2008; 10, Zhang et al, 2009; 11, Walters et al, 2010; 12, Zhang et al, 2010; 13, Raikow et al, 2011; 14, Ramirez et al, 2011; 15, Wyman et al, 2011; 16, Edmonds et al, 2012; 17, Tsui et al, 2012; 18, Otter et al, 2013; 19, Tweedy et al, 2013; 20, Wang et al, 2013; 21, Marr et al, 2014; 22, Speir et al, 2014; 23, Bartrons et al, 2015; 24, Gann et al, 2015; 25, Kwon et al, 2015; 26, Ortiz Jr. et al, 2015; 27, Pennuto and Smith, 2015; 28, Alberts and Sullivan, 2016; 29, Chaves‐Ulloa et al, 2016; 30, Kim and Kim, 2016; 31, Laws et al, 2016; 32, Moy et al, 2016; 33, Sullivan et al, 2016; 34, Abeysinghe et al, 2017; 35, Hepp et al, 2017; 36, Kraus et al, 2017; 37, Tavshunsky et al, 2017; 38, Archer et al, 2018; 39, Howie et al, 2018; 40, Richmond et al, 2018; 41, Walters et al, 2018; 42, Beaubien et al, 2019; 43, Ortega‐Rodriguez et al, 2019; 44, Qiu et al, 2019; 45, Rodenhouse et al, 2019; 46, Beaubien et al, 2020; 47, Bergmann and Graça, 2020; 48, Gerson et al, 2020; 49, Koch et al, 2020; 50, Naslund et al, 2020; 51, Cetinić et al 2021; 52, Hannappel et al, 2021; 53, Kraus et al, 2021; 54, Ku et al, 2021; 55, Previšić et al, 2021.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Riparian Spiders as Sentinels of Persistent and Bioavailable Chemical Contaminants in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review

Chumchal

Beaubien

Drenner

et al. 2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Aquatic ecosystems around the world are contaminated with a wide range of anthropogenic chemicals, including metals and organic pollutants, that originate from point and nonpoint sources. Many of these chemical contaminants have complex environmental cycles, are persistent and bioavailable, can be incorporated into aquatic food webs, and pose a threat to the health of wildlife and humans. Identifying appropriate sentinels that reflect bioavailability is critical to assessing and managing aquatic ecosystems impacted by contaminants. The objective of the present study is to review research on riparian spiders as sentinels of persistent and bioavailable chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Our review of the literature on riparian spiders as sentinels suggests that significant progress has been made during the last two decades of research. We identified 55 published studies conducted around the world in which riparian spiders (primarily of the families Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Lycosidae, and Pisauridae) were used as sentinels of chemical contamination of lotic, lentic, and estuarine systems. For several contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Hg, and Se, it is now clear that riparian spiders are appropriate sentinels. However, many contaminants and factors that could impact chemical concentrations in riparian spiders have not been well characterized. Further study of riparian spiders and their potential role as sentinels is critical because it would allow for development of national‐scale programs that utilize riparian spiders as sentinels to monitor chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. A riparian spider sentinel program in the United States would be complementary to existing national sentinel programs, including those for fish and immature dragonflies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:499–514. © 2021 SETAC

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“…The incorporation of the trace element by adsorption occurs in direct contact with the environment (e.g., stream water). This incorporation form is common when organisms live in environments with higher concentrations of trace elements, or when they remain for a long time exposed to the element (Hepp et al, 2017). On the other hand, incorporation by food consumption is the most common form, since invertebrates are effectively in the aquatic food chain (Figure 1; Loureiro et al, 2018).…”

Section: Incorporation and Mobility Of Trace Elements By Aquatic Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because trace elements have different chemical characteristics, they show different behaviors when incorporated into the food chain. In general, organisms develop physiological strategies for the elements excretion, so they are hardly biomagnified, as is the case of arsenic, for example (Hepp et al, 2017). On the other hand, there are trace elements that are biomagnified, because the organisms do not have clear excretion strategies (e.g., mercury; Schmitt et al, 2011).…”

Section: Incorporation and Mobility Of Trace Elements By Aquatic Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the emergency process is a common step in the development of numerous insect species. In this way, considering the insects' ability to incorporate trace elements in their immature phases, the emergence of these organisms may be a real source of contamination to the terrestrial environment (Figure 1; Hepp et al, 2017). An example is the larvae of Leptocerus americanus (Banks, 1899) that, when emerged from streams, was able to transfer about 160 mg of lead to the terrestrial environment in a year (Ryan et al, 2019).…”

Section: Incorporation and Mobility Of Trace Elements By Aquatic Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Stream contamination by trace elements: biota incorporation and phytoremediation

Loureiro

Hepp

2020

Acta Limnol. Bras.

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In this review, we present information about the presence of trace elements on streams and the consequences related to the increase of these chemical elements on aquatic systems. Although several studies on trace elements contamination in aquatic environments are conducted on point sources, non-point sources also have a high potential to contaminate water bodies. Some trace elements are important for the development of an organism. However, even essential elements, in high concentrations, may be toxic to aquatic organisms. In some cases, trace elements may accumulate and be transferred along food webs, generating changes in the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. The phytoremediation techniques could be an important tool in reducing the problems generated by trace elements. Thus, understanding the effects generated by the increase of trace elements concentrations on aquatic ecosystems becomes important to help public managers to apply solutions for the mitigation of this chemical pollution on natural resources.

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Arsenic in stream waters is bioaccumulated but neither biomagnified through food webs nor biodispersed to land

Cited by 28 publications

References 48 publications

Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators

Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators

Use of Riparian Spiders as Sentinels of Persistent and Bioavailable Chemical Contaminants in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review

Stream contamination by trace elements: biota incorporation and phytoremediation

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