Indicators of sediment and biotic mercury contamination in a southern New England estuary

Taylor, David L.; Linehan, Jennifer C.; Murray, David; Prell, Warren L

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.01.013

Cited by 63 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…A relationship between sediment and tissue concentrations was also shown in past studies of total Hg in estuarine fauna and organic matter normalized concentrations of Hg in sediments [9,20]. While there are relationships of carbon normalized Hg in sediments and biota in this study, the relationship does not hold true for MeHg, the most bioavailable and toxic form.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Metal Bioaccumulation by Estuarine Food Webs in New England, USA

Chen

Ward

Williams

et al. 2016

JMSE

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Evaluating the degree of metal exposure and bioaccumulation in estuarine organisms is important for understanding the fate of metals in estuarine food webs. We investigated the bioaccumulation of Hg, methylmercury (MeHg), Cd, Se, Pb, and As in common intertidal organisms across a watershed urbanization gradient of coastal marsh sites in New England to relate metal exposure and bioaccumulation in fauna to both chemical and ecological factors. In sediments, we measured metal and metalloid concentrations, total organic carbon (TOC) and SEM-AVS (Simultaneously extracted metal-acid volatile sulfides). In five different functional feeding groups of biota, we measured metal concentrations and delta 15N and delta 13C signatures. Concentrations of Hg and Se in biota for all sites were always greater than sediment concentrations whereas Pb in biota was always lower. There were positive relationships between biota Hg concentrations and sediment concentrations, and between biota MeHg concentrations and both pelagic feeding mode and trophic level. Bioavailability of all metals measured as SEM-AVS or Benthic-Sediment Accumulation Factor was lower in more contaminated sites, likely due to biogeochemical factors related to higher levels of sulfides and organic carbon in the sediments. Our study demonstrates that for most metals and metalloids, bioaccumulation is metal specific and not directly related to sediment concentrations or measures of bioavailability such as AVS-SEM.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Metal Bioaccumulation by Estuarine Food Webs in New England, USA

Chen

Ward

Williams

et al. 2016

JMSE

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“…The composition of bay and riverine sediments was assessed in earlier studies between 2000 and 2006 (% silt-clay: n = 253; TOC: n = 232), and data were accessed from Murray et al (2007), U.S. EPA (2011), and summarized in Taylor et al (2012).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Juvenile Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) Utilization of Southern New England Nurseries: Comparisons Among Estuarine, Tidal River, and Coastal Lagoon Shallow-Water Habitats

Taylor

McNamee²,

Lake³

et al. 2016

Estuaries and Coasts

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This study evaluated the relative importance of the N arragansett Bay estuary (RI and MA, USA), and associated tidal rivers and coastal lagoons, as nurseries for juvenile winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, and summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. Winter flounder (WF) and summer flounder (SF) abundance and growth were measured from May to October (2009–2013) and served as indicators for the use and quality of shallow-water habitats (water depth < 1.5–3.0 m). These bioindicators were then analyzed with respect to physiochemical conditions to determine the mechanisms underlying intra-specific habitat selection. WF and SF abundances were greatest in late May and June (maximum monthly mean = 4.9 and 0.55 flounder/m2 for WF and SF, respectively), and were significantly higher in the tidal rivers relative to the bay and lagoons. Habitat-related patterns in WF and SF abundance were primarily governed by their preferences for oligohaline (0.1–5 ppt) and mesohaline (6–18 ppt) waters, but also their respective avoidance of hypoxic conditions (< 4 mg DO/L) and warm water temperatures (> 25 °C). Flounder habitat usage was also positively related to sediment organic content, which may be due to these substrates having sufficiently high prey densities. WF growth rates (mean = 0.25 ± 0.14 mm/d) were negatively correlated with the abundance of conspecifics, whereas SF growth (mean = 1.39 ± 0.46 mm/d) was positively related to temperature and salinity. Also, contrary to expectations, flounder occupied habitats that offered no ostensible advantage in intra-specific growth rates. WF and SF exposed to low salinities in certain rivers likely experienced increased osmoregulatory costs, thereby reducing energy for somatic growth. Low-salinity habitats, however, may benefit flounder by providing refugia from predation or reduced competition with other estuarine fishes and macro-invertebrates. Examining WF and SF abundance and growth across each species’ broader geographic distribution revealed that southern New England habitats may constitute functionally significant nurseries. These results also indicated that juvenile SF have a geographic range extending further north than previously recognized.

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“…Therefore, advisories often lack the appropriate site-specific detail to accurately report contamination risks of fish collected from a particular body of water or human demographic. This concern is especially warranted for the northeastern US, a region that relies heavily on local fisheries and experiences elevated mercury contamination from both local point sources and long-range transport processes (Chen et al, 2008; Mahaffey et al, 2009; Taylor et al, 2012). Investigations focusing on site-specific assessments of fish Hg contamination and human exposure will therefore provide health officials with the data required to make informed decisions regarding the safe consumption of local fishery resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury contamination in Southern New England coastal fisheries and dietary habits of recreational anglers and their families: Implications to human health and issuance of consumption advisories

Taylor

Williamson

2017

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Total mercury (Hg) was measured in coastal fishes from Southern New England (RI, USA), and Hg exposure was estimated for anglers and family members that consumed these resources. Fish Hg was positively related to total length (n = 2028 across 7 fish species), and interspecies differences were evident among legally harvestable fish. Many recreational anglers and their families experienced excessively high Hg exposure rates, which was attributed to the enriched Hg content of frequently consumed fishes. Specifically, 51.5% of participants in this study had Hg exposures exceeding the US EPA reference dose, including 50.0% of women of childbearing years. These results are noteworthy given that Hg neurotoxicity occurs in adults and children from direct and prenatal low-dose exposure. Moreover, this study underscores the need for geographic-specific research that accounts for small-scale spatial variations in fish Hg and dietary habits of at-risk human populations.

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Indicators of sediment and biotic mercury contamination in a southern New England estuary

Cited by 63 publications

References 67 publications

Metal Bioaccumulation by Estuarine Food Webs in New England, USA

Metal Bioaccumulation by Estuarine Food Webs in New England, USA

Juvenile Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) Utilization of Southern New England Nurseries: Comparisons Among Estuarine, Tidal River, and Coastal Lagoon Shallow-Water Habitats

Mercury contamination in Southern New England coastal fisheries and dietary habits of recreational anglers and their families: Implications to human health and issuance of consumption advisories

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