Mercury and selenium concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios in small cetaceans taken off St. Vincent, West Indies

McCormack, Meaghan A.; Fielding, Russell; Kiszka, Jérémy J.; Paz, Valeria; Jackson, Brian P.; Bergfelt, D.R.; Dutton, Jessica

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.108908

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 72 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Whales are on the upmost trophic level and bioaccumulate high concentration of metals via the food chain, including mercury . The positive correlation of selenium and mercury content in cetacean tissue has been described before. − This led to the detection of inert HgSe particles in their organs, which endorse the hypothesis of the formation of this nontoxic Hg species as a mechanism of Hg tolerance and detoxification . The results from our work are well in agreement with the two previous imaging studies of these particles in cetaceans.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Development of Mercury Analysis by NanoSIMS for the Localization of Mercury–Selenium Particles in Whale Liver

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) is a dynamic SIMS technique, which offers high spatial resolution allowing the mapping of chemical elements at the nanometer scale combined with high sensitivity. However, SIMS for mercury analysis is a challenging issue due to the low secondary ion yield and has never been done on NanoSIMS. The introduction of an rf plasma oxygen primary ion source on NanoSIMS enabled higher lateral resolution and higher sensitivity for electropositive elements such as most metals. In this paper, for the first time, mercury analysis by NanoSIMS was developed applying the new rf plasma O– ion source. All mercury isotopes could be detected as Hg+ secondary ions and the isotopic pattern corresponded to their natural isotopic abundances. Furthermore, Hg+ detection in HgSe nanocrystals has been investigated where polyatomic interferences from selenium clusters were identified and separated by high mass resolution (ΔM/M ≥ 3200). However, in the presence of selenium a strong matrix effect was observed, decreasing the Hg+ secondary ion yield. In addition, a detection of Se+ ions was possible, too. The newly developed method was successfully applied to nanoscale localization by chemical imaging of HgSe particles accumulated in the liver tissue of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). This demonstrated the applicability of NanoSIMS not only for mercury detection in surface analysis but also for mercury mapping in biological samples.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Development of Mercury Analysis by NanoSIMS for the Localization of Mercury–Selenium Particles in Whale Liver

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When researchers were absent from the field site, communication with whalers and other local experts was maintained via email and online messaging. Field methods also included dietary surveys among potential whale-based food product consumers in the general public (n = 921, see Fielding et al, 2021); archival research; and tissue sample collection for ecotoxicological analysis (see McCormack et al, 2020). Whaling methods were investigated through interview surveys with whalers, archival research, and field observations.…”

Section: Data Collection (2007-2017)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies have found elevated levels of mercury in tissues sampled from small cetaceans taken by SVG-based whalers, and most tissues used for food exceeded the FAO and the World Health Organization human consumption advisory level of 1.0 µg/g wet weight (McCormack et al, 2020). The health implications of mercury intake are significant, but poorly understood.…”

Section: Emerging Issues and Recommendations For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Very limited research has been carried out to describe whaling activities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, including its history, whaling practices and methods, and the magnitude of catches (species composition and numbers, but see Caldwell and Caldwell, 1975;Price, 1985;Fielding, 2018). Recent research, however, suggests that high levels of mercury in small cetacean tissues may represent a risk to the health of cetacean-product consumers in SVG (McCormack et al, 2020;Fielding et al, 2021). Here we review all available information documented since 1949 on whaling practices in SVG, with a special focus on small cetacean hunting using the available literature (1881-2020) and field data collected from 2007 and 2017, where whaling activities have been the focus of a dedicated multi-year research program.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Artisanal and Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Eastern Caribbean): History, Catch Characteristics, and Needs for Research and Management

Fielding

Kiszka

2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Whaling has been a contentious international environmental issue for decades and carries complex ecological and socioeconomic implications. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a small archipelagic nation located in the Eastern Caribbean, present-day whaling traces its origin to local interaction with American-based whalers during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. When American whaling in the region ceased, local shore-based whaling arose to fill the niche and to exploit the remaining, though diminished, stocks of large whales, as well as stocks of small cetaceans that the American whalers had not targeted as heavily. After a period of expansion throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which saw shore-whaling operations established on at least 11 islands in the region, Eastern Caribbean whaling experienced a period of attrition, during which most local whaling operations ceased. Two operations, both based in SVG, continue regularly today. This paper reviews the past and present status of whaling activities in SVG from the literature and using recent data collected from 2007 to 2017 through logbook data, interview surveys, and ethnographic observations. Small cetacean captures have been documented since 1949, and at least 15 species of odontocetes have been captured (primarily delphinids). From 1949 to 2017, a total of 13,856 small cetacean captures has been recorded, including 5,896 short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), 109 killer whales (Orcinus orca), and 7,851 other small cetaceans. Small cetacean catch records are largely incomplete and total catch estimates could not be attempted. Reliable abundance estimates do not exist. Consistent records for the take of large whales are only available for the period 1986–2020, during which 45 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and 2 Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) were taken. Additionally, 8 sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) captures were reported from 1967 and 1974. We also review whaling practices, existing national policy on whaling, management techniques outside of formal policy regimes, research needs, and future management perspectives. Future monitoring and management of whaling activities in SVG are strongly needed to assess the sustainability of small cetacean exploitation.

show abstract

“…The use of cetaceans as a local food source in SVG potentially exposes human consumers to high concentrations of Hg (Fielding 2018;McCormack et al 2020). The degree to which individuals are exposed to Hg is based, in part, upon individual rates of consumption of cetacean-based food products.…”

Section: ± Nd Nd Ndmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic and geographic patterns of cetacean-based food product consumption and potential mercury exposure within a Caribbean whaling community

Fielding

Kiszka

Macdonald

et al. 2021

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Exposure to mercury (Hg) through the consumption of seafood is a major public health concern. The tissues of high trophic level marine organisms, such as cetaceans, often contain high concentrations of Hg compared to lower trophic level species. The archipelagic Caribbean nation of St. Vincent & the Grenadines supports two related whaling operations, which produce food from cetaceans for human consumption. A recent study reported that Hg concentrations in tissue samples from one of these whaling operations exceed recommended consumption limits. Our objective was to determine the role of cetacean-based food products in the diet of the Vincentian population as a proxy for exposure to MeHg. Methods: We conducted interviews with 921 members of the Vincentian public. We asked questions about the types of food consumed, frequency of consumption, and quantities consumed. Based upon provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) guidelines for methylmercury (MeHg) from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), we determined safe weekly consumption amounts for speci c cetacean-based food products, based upon reported consumption patterns. Results: We found cetacean-based food products to be included in the diet of 77.4 percent of respondents. Respondents' gender and geographical home region are the most predictive attributes for cetacean-based food product consumption, whereas socioeconomic status and age play a minor role and no role, respectively. Frequency and amount of consumption vary, but generally exceed calculated safe weekly consumption amounts. Conclusions: The consumption of cetacean-based food products by members of the Vincentian public may represent a public health risk, as data indicate that a large portion of the population may be exposed to concentrations of MeHg in excess of recommended limits. Any potential action to address this risk is likely to be most effective if targeted toward the speci c high-consumption population segments identi ed by our study.

show abstract

Mercury and selenium concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios in small cetaceans taken off St. Vincent, West Indies

Cited by 21 publications

References 72 publications

Development of Mercury Analysis by NanoSIMS for the Localization of Mercury–Selenium Particles in Whale Liver

Development of Mercury Analysis by NanoSIMS for the Localization of Mercury–Selenium Particles in Whale Liver

Artisanal and Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Eastern Caribbean): History, Catch Characteristics, and Needs for Research and Management

Demographic and geographic patterns of cetacean-based food product consumption and potential mercury exposure within a Caribbean whaling community

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About