Bioconcentration and Biomagnification of Mercury and Methylmercury in North Sea and Scheldt Estuary Fish

Baeyens, Willy; Leermakers, Martine; Papina, Tatyana; Saprykin, A; Brion, Natacha; Noyen, J; Gieter, M. De; Elskens, Marc; Goeyens, Léo

doi:10.1007/s00244-003-2136-4

Cited by 165 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In fish, muscle is the primary repository for MeHg but not inorganic Hg (Wiener and Spry 1996). Nearly all of the Hg in muscle of fish and lobster from LIS is MeHg, in agreement with measurements of MeHg in the muscle of other marine finfish and decapod crustaceans (Bloom 1992;Francesconi and Lenanton 1992;Andersen and Depledge 1997;Baeyens et al 2003). The Hg content of small forage species, however, is commonly measured after homogenization of the whole fish, such as alewife in this study, which includes some tissues enriched with inorganic Hg compared to muscle (e.g., liver, kidney; Lasorsa and AllenGil 1995; Francesconi and Lenanton 1992;Baeyens et al 2003).…”

Section: Hg Speciation In Tissuessupporting

confidence: 87%

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Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Methylmercury in Long Island Sound

Hammerschmidt

Fitzgerald

2006

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

212

160

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Abstract. Humans are exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) principally by consumption of marine fish. The coastal zone supports the majority of marine fish production, and may therefore be an important source of MeHg to humans; however, little is known about the bioaccumulation or MeHg in near-shore marine ecosystems. We examined MeHg in microseston, zooplankton, a decapod crustacean and four representative species of finfish that differ in trophic status and/or prey selection in Long Island Sound (LIS), a large coastal embayment in the northeastern UnitedStates. MeHg biomagnifies in LIS; levels in microseston were 10 4.2 greater than those in water and 2.3-fold less than zooplankton. MeHg concentrations were related positively to fish length for each species, but often varied considerably among larger individuals. This may be due to differences in the past dietary MeHg exposure of these fish, some of which are migratory.Sedimentary production and mobilization can account for most of the MeHg in microseston of LIS, and by extension, other near-shore locations. Hence, much of the MeHg in higher trophic levels of coastal marine ecosystems, including fishes destined for human consumption, may be attributed to net sedimentary production and dietary bioaccumulation. 3Accumulation of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic food webs is the primary human health concern related to mercury in the environment. Humans are exposed to MeHg principally by the consumption of fish and fish products (Fitzgerald and Clarkson 1991), and some fish levels may pose a threat to public health. Indeed, transfer of MeHg from a maternal seafood diet to prenatal life stages can inhibit the neurological and cardiovascular development of children (e.g., Grandjean et al. 1997;Sorensen et al. 1999). Additionally, MeHg may adversely affect the cardiovascular health of adults who eat fish (Salonen et al. 1995). Most of the fish consumed by humans is of marine origin (U.S. EPA 2002), and the coastal zone supports 50−75% of marine fish productivity (Ryther 1969). Thus, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MeHg in near-shore marine ecosystems are critical processes affecting the exposure of humans who consume fish. Yet, compared to freshwater environments, there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the biogeochemistry and bioaccumulation of MeHg in biologically productive coastal marine systems.Most MeHg in coastal marine systems results from the bacterial methylation of inorganic mercury (Hg) in sediments. Near-shore sediments are not only a repository for natural and anthropogenically derived inorganic Hg (e.g., Balcom et al. 2004), but host active communities of sulfate reducing bacteria, the major functional group of organisms mediating the transformation of inorganic Hg to MeHg (Compeau and Bartha 1985). Recent studies haveshown the biogeochemical combination of inorganic Hg and sulfate-reducing bacteria in near-shore deposits results in considerable production and mobilization of MeHg to overlying water (e.g., Gill et al. 1999;. 4In Long Island So...

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Section: Hg Speciation In Tissuessupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Levels of MeHg in 0.2−μm filtered, oxic waters of LIS average about 0.03 ng L −1 , and are comparable to those in other coastal marine systems Baeyens et al 2003;. Microseston bioconcentrate Hg species from surface water (Mason et al 1996).…”

Section: Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification Of Mehgsupporting

confidence: 53%

Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Methylmercury in Long Island Sound

Hammerschmidt

Fitzgerald

2006

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

212

160

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“…The concentrations in the fish were usually much higher than those in the corresponding water system (Boudou and Ribeyre, 1989;Baeyens et al, 2003). According to the detailed results shown in Fig.…”

Section: Accumulation Of Methylmercury In Diverse Tissues Of Medakamentioning

confidence: 88%

Methylmercury accumulation, histopathology effects, and cholinesterase activity alterations in medaka (Oryzias latipes) following sublethal exposure to methylmercury chloride

Liao

Shi

et al. 2006

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

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“…The MeHg bioaccumulation step from water to phytoplankton and other seston represents the largest single increase for MeHg concentrations in aquatic ecosystems, and can be 10 4 or greater. [136,137] MeHg may initially enter food webs either through consumption by heterotrophic feeders of the MeHg-containing microbial populations responsible for its formation, or the release of dissolved MeHg into water followed by its assimilation by phytoplankton and algae. MeHg uptake in diatoms mainly occurs passively in the form of uncharged, lipophilic MeHg-containing complexes.…”

Section: Bioavailability Of Mercurymentioning

confidence: 99%

The fate of mercury in Arctic terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, a review

Douglas

Loseto²,

Macdonald³

et al. 2012

Environ. Chem.

121

147

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Environmental context. Mercury, in its methylated form, is a neurotoxin that biomagnifies in marine and terrestrial foodwebs leading to elevated levels in fish and fish-eating mammals worldwide, including at numerous Arctic locations. Elevated mercury concentrations in Arctic country foods present a significant exposure risk to Arctic people. We present a detailed review of the fate of mercury in Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems, taking into account the extreme seasonality of Arctic ecosystems and the unique processes associated with sea ice and Arctic hydrology.Abstract. This review is the result of a series of multidisciplinary meetings organised by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme as part of their 2011 Assessment 'Mercury in the Arctic'. This paper presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on the environmental fate of mercury following its entry into the Arctic by oceanic, atmospheric and terrestrial pathways. Our focus is on the movement, transformation and bioaccumulation of Hg in aquatic (marine and fresh water) and terrestrial ecosystems. The processes most relevant to biological Hg uptake and the potential risk associated with Hg exposure in wildlife are emphasised. We present discussions of the chemical transformations of newly deposited or transported Hg in marine, fresh water and terrestrial environments and of the movement of Hg from air, soil and water environmental compartments into food webs. Methylation, a key process controlling the fate of Hg in most ecosystems, and the role of trophic processes in controlling Hg in higher order animals are also included. Case studies on Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are presented as examples of the relationship between ecosystem trophic processes and biologic Hg levels. We examine whether atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) contribute to increased Hg levels in Arctic biota and provide information on the links between organic carbon and Hg speciation, dynamics and bioavailability. Long-term sequestration of Hg into non-biological archives is also addressed. The review concludes by identifying major knowledge gaps in our understanding, including:(1) the rates of Hg entry into marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the rates of inorganic and MeHg uptake by Arctic microbial and algal communities; (2) the bioavailable fraction of AMDE-related Hg and its rate of accumulation by biota and (3) the fresh water and marine MeHg cycle in the Arctic, especially the marine MeHg cycle.

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Bioconcentration and Biomagnification of Mercury and Methylmercury in North Sea and Scheldt Estuary Fish

Cited by 165 publications

References 23 publications

Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Methylmercury in Long Island Sound

Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Methylmercury in Long Island Sound

Methylmercury accumulation, histopathology effects, and cholinesterase activity alterations in medaka (Oryzias latipes) following sublethal exposure to methylmercury chloride

The fate of mercury in Arctic terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, a review

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