Determination of mercury in environmental and biological samples using pyrolysis atomic absorption spectrometry with gold amalgamation

Costley, Claire T.; Mossop, Katharine F; Dean, John R.; Garden, Louise M.; Marshall, John; Carroll, John J.

doi:10.1016/s0003-2670(99)00742-4

Cited by 277 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Predator and prey white muscle tissue samples were analyzed for total mercury (THg) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Direct Mercury Analyzer, Milestone) (56,57). Drying temperatures and decomposition times were chosen based on Milestone's recommendations for fish tissue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of depth on mercury levels in pelagic fishes and their prey

Choy

Popp

Kaneko

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

182

144

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Mercury distribution in the oceans is controlled by complex biogeochemical cycles, resulting in retention of trace amounts of this metal in plants and animals. Inter-and intra-specific variations in mercury levels of predatory pelagic fish have been previously linked to size, age, trophic position, physical and chemical environmental parameters, and location of capture; however, considerable variation remains unexplained. In this paper, we focus on differences in ecology, depth of occurrence, and total mercury levels in 9 species of commercially important pelagic fish (Thunnus obesus, T. albacares, Katsuwonus pelamis, Xiphias gladius, Lampris guttatus, Coryphaena hippurus, Taractichthys steindachneri, Tetrapturus audax, and Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) and in numerous representatives (fishes, squids, and crustaceans) of their lower trophic level prey sampled from the central North Pacific Ocean. Results indicate that total mercury levels of predatory pelagic fishes and their prey increase with median depth of occurrence in the water column and mimic concentrations of dissolved organic mercury in seawater. Stomach content analysis results from this study and others indicate a greater occurrence of higher-mercury containing deeper-water prey organisms in the diets of the deeperranging predators, X. gladius, T. obesus, and L. guttatus. While present in trace amounts, dissolved organic mercury increases with depth in the water column suggesting that the mesopelagic habitat is a major entry point for mercury into marine food webs. These data suggest that a major determinant of mercury levels in oceanic predators is their depth of forage.depth of forage ͉ marine pelagic predators ͉ North Pacific Ocean ͉ mercury bioaccumulation ͉ mesopelagic zone

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of depth on mercury levels in pelagic fishes and their prey

Choy

Popp

Kaneko

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

182

144

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“…Total mercury contents in all samples, extracted solutions and residual matrix were determined by thermal decomposition atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with gold amalgamation (LECO model AMA-254), a rapid total mercury determination method (Costley et al, 2000). The system consists of a nickel boat in a quartz combustion tube containing a catalyst in which the solid sample is initially dried (30 s) prior to combustion at 750 ºC (150 s) in an oxygen atmosphere.…”

Section: Mercury Analysis 250 251mentioning

confidence: 99%

Extractability and mobility of mercury from agricultural soils surrounding industrial and mining contaminated areas

et al. 2010

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This version is available at https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/27622/ Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. AbstractThis study focussed on a comparison of the extractability of mercury in soils with two different contamination sources (a chlor-alkali plant and mining activities) and on the evaluation of the influence of specific soil properties on the behaviour of the contaminant.The method applied here did not target the identification of individual species, but instead provided information concerning the mobility of mercury species in soil. Mercury fractions were classified as mobile, semi-mobile and non-mobile.The fractionation study revealed that in all samples mercury was mainly present in the semi-mobile phase (between 63 and 97%). The highest mercury mobility (2.7 mg kg -1 ) was found in soils from the industrial area. Mining soils exhibited higher percentage of non-mobile mercury, up to 35%, due to their elevated sulfur content.Results of factor analysis indicate that the presence of mercury in the mobile phase could be related to manganese and aluminum soil contents. A positive relation between mercury in the semi-mobile fraction and the aluminium content was also observed. By contrary, organic matter and sulfur contents contributed to mercury retention in the soil matrix reducing the mobility of the metal.

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“…17 Sediments (Sed-Hg) and L. aurata tissues samples were analysed for T-Hg by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with thermal decomposition and gold amalgamation, using an Advanced Mercury Analyser (AMA) LECO 254. 21 The accuracy and precision of the analytical methodology for total mercury determinations were assessed by replicate analysis of certified reference materials (CRM), namely MESS-3 and PACS-2 (marine sediments) for sediments and TORT-2 (lobster hepatopancreas) for biological samples. The precision of the method was always better than 9% (n > 3), with a recovery efficiency between 92-103%.…”

Section: Mercury Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury distribution in key tissues of fish (Liza aurata) inhabiting a contaminated estuary—implications for human and ecosystem health risk assessment

et al. 2009

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This study brings a new viewpoint based on multiple-tissue analyses to form the basis for a predictive mode of mercury accumulation dynamics in fish body under field conditions. Total mercury (T-Hg) was determined in key tissues of Liza aurata captured along an estuarine contamination gradient, displaying the following hierarchy: kidney > liver > muscle > brain > gills > blood. Brain was the tissue that better reflected the mercury contamination extent, closely followed by liver and muscle. Organic mercury (O-Hg) measured in muscle and liver represented more than 85% and less than 30% of the T-Hg, respectively. The lowest O-Hg percentage was found in the most contaminated area, for both muscle and liver. Mercury distribution and accumulation patterns showed dependence on the specific tissue. The high mercury levels found in organs involved in vital physiological processes point out the risk to autochthonous fish fauna. Human risk associated to the ingestion of fish living in the surveyed areas cannot be excluded.

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Determination of mercury in environmental and biological samples using pyrolysis atomic absorption spectrometry with gold amalgamation

Cited by 277 publications

References 16 publications

The influence of depth on mercury levels in pelagic fishes and their prey

The influence of depth on mercury levels in pelagic fishes and their prey

Extractability and mobility of mercury from agricultural soils surrounding industrial and mining contaminated areas

Mercury distribution in key tissues of fish (Liza aurata) inhabiting a contaminated estuary—implications for human and ecosystem health risk assessment

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