Mercury and Selenium Accumulation in Common Loons (Gavia Immer) and Common Mergansers (Mergus Merganser) From Eastern Canada

Scheuhammer, Anton M.; Wong, Allan H. K.; Bond, Della E.

doi:10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<0197:masaic>2.3.co;2

Cited by 59 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Thus, exceptions to the broad pattern of decreasing Se concentrations up the food chain emerge when examining specific feeding relationships that are not captured by stable isotope analysis. Stronger biomagnification of Hg relative to Se likely continues up the food chain, leading to total Hg concentrations exceeding Se concentrations in muscle tissue of waterfowl [75] and other piscivores, including humans. Finally, pelagic feeding (lower δ 13 C values) was moderately associated with higher content of both Hg and Se.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting Food Web Factor and Body Size Relationships with Hg and Se Concentrations in Marine Biota

2013

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Marine fish and shellfish are primary sources of human exposure to mercury, a potentially toxic metal, and selenium, an essential element that may protect against mercury bioaccumulation and toxicity. Yet we lack a thorough understanding of Hg and Se patterns in common marine taxa, particularly those that are commercially important, and how food web and body size factors differ in their influence on Hg and Se patterns. We compared Hg and Se content among marine fish and invertebrate taxa collected from Long Island, NY, and examined associations between Hg, Se, body length, trophic level (measured by δ15N) and degree of pelagic feeding (measured by δ13C). Finfish, particularly shark, had high Hg content whereas bivalves generally had high Se content. Both taxonomic differences and variability were larger for Hg than Se, and Hg content explained most of the variation in Hg:Se molar ratios among taxa. Finally, Hg was more strongly associated with length and trophic level across taxa than Se, consistent with a greater degree of Hg bioaccumulation in the body over time, and biomagnification through the food web, respectively. Overall, our findings indicate distinct taxonomic and ecological Hg and Se patterns in commercially important marine biota, and these patterns have nutritional and toxicological implications for seafood-consuming wildlife and humans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting Food Web Factor and Body Size Relationships with Hg and Se Concentrations in Marine Biota

2013

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“…Fourth, data for both total mercury and methylmercury were included. All mercury in eggs (Ackerman et al, 2013), whole blood (Rimmer et al, 2005), muscle (Scheuhammer et al, 1998), and feathers (Thompson and Furness, 1989) was assumed to be in the methylmercury form, and, therefore, total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were used to represent methylmercury concentrations in birds. A significant proportion of the mercury in liver and kidney can be in the inorganic form (Eagles-Smith et al, 2009b; Scheuhammer et al, 1998; Thompson and Furness, 1989).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All mercury in eggs (Ackerman et al, 2013), whole blood (Rimmer et al, 2005), muscle (Scheuhammer et al, 1998), and feathers (Thompson and Furness, 1989) was assumed to be in the methylmercury form, and, therefore, total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were used to represent methylmercury concentrations in birds. A significant proportion of the mercury in liver and kidney can be in the inorganic form (Eagles-Smith et al, 2009b; Scheuhammer et al, 1998; Thompson and Furness, 1989). Very few data (<1%) were available for these tissues as methylmercury concentrations, but, for those limited data, methylmercury concentrations were transformed into equivalent total mercury (THg) concentrations by using an adjustment of 88% of THg being in the methyl mercury form in liver (Eagles-Smith et al, 2009b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: A synthesis

Ackerman

Eagles‐Smith

Herzog

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

248

198

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Methylmercury contamination of the environment is an important issue globally and birds are useful bioindicators for mercury monitoring programs. The available data on mercury contamination of birds in western North America were synthesized. Original data from multiple databases were obtained and a literature review was conducted to obtain additional mercury concentrations. In total, 29219 original bird mercury concentrations from 225 species were compiled, and an additional 1712 mean mercury concentrations, representing 19998 individuals and 176 species, from 200 publications were obtained. To make mercury data comparable across bird tissues, published equations of tissue mercury correlations were used to convert all mercury concentrations into blood-equivalent mercury concentrations. Blood-equivalent mercury concentrations differed among species, foraging guilds, habitat types, locations, and ecoregions. Piscivores and carnivores exhibited the greatest mercury concentrations, whereas herbivores and granivores exhibited the lowest mercury concentrations. Bird mercury concentrations were greatest in ocean and salt marsh habitats and lowest in terrestrial habitats. Bird mercury concentrations were above toxicity benchmarks in many areas throughout western North America, and multiple hotspots were identified. Additionally, published toxicity benchmarks established in multiple tissues were summarized and translated into a common blood-equivalent mercury concentration. Overall, 66% of birds sampled in western North American exceeded a blood-equivalent mercury concentration of 0.2 μg/g wet weight (ww; above background levels), which is the lowest-observed effect level, 28% exceeded 1.0 μg/g ww (moderate risk), 8% exceeded 3.0 μg/g ww (high risk), and 4% exceeded 4.0 μg/g ww (severe risk). Mercury monitoring programs should sample bird tissues, such as adult blood and eggs, that are most-easily translated into tissues with well-developed toxicity benchmarks and that are directly relevant to bird reproduction. Results indicate that mercury contamination of birds is prevalent in many areas throughout western North America, and large-scale ecological attributes are important factors influencing bird mercury concentrations.

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“…Remarkable positive correlation between mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) contents in different animals, such as fish [1,2], marine mammals, and birds [3–7], and in workers following the exposure to inorganic mercury [8,9] of the same sampling time have been well documented. Ganther et al [10] demonstrated the ability of Se to reduce or even neutralize the toxicity of Hg was in experimental animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The temporal relationship between Se and Hg in animals, however, remains unclear [7]. With the aim to explore the association between Hg and Se in the Antarctic animals on a large timescale, in this study, we analyzed the concentrations of total Hg (Hg T ) and Se in the Antarctic seal hairs spanning the past 1,500 years and in the four lake sediments amended by seal or penguin excrements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury‐selenium association in antarctic seal hairs and animal excrements over the past 1,500 years

Yin

Sun

Zhu

et al. 2007

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Strong positive correlations between selenium (Se) and total mercury (HgT) contents in the liver of marine mammals and mercury mine workers in modern times have been documented in numerous investigations. Herein, we report a positive correlation between Se and HgT concentrations over the past 1,500 years in the seal hairs and in the lake sediments amended by seal or penguin excrements on King George Island (63 degrees 23' S, 57 degrees 00' W), West Antarctica. Because the changes in the input of Se and Hg into the marine environments of the studied sites do not seem to be synchronous, this striking correlation indicates a self-protection mechanism in Antarctic seals and penguins: Every time there is heavier Hg burden, more Se is accumulated to reduce the toxicity of Hg. This positive correlation between Hg and Se contents in the seal hairs and excrement sediments, however, becomes insignificant in the recent 50 years for unknown reasons.

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Mercury and Selenium Accumulation in Common Loons (Gavia Immer) and Common Mergansers (Mergus Merganser) From Eastern Canada

Cited by 59 publications

References 29 publications

Contrasting Food Web Factor and Body Size Relationships with Hg and Se Concentrations in Marine Biota

Contrasting Food Web Factor and Body Size Relationships with Hg and Se Concentrations in Marine Biota

Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: A synthesis

Mercury‐selenium association in antarctic seal hairs and animal excrements over the past 1,500 years

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