Mercury in soil, earthworms and organs of voles Myodes glareolus and shrew Sorex araneus in the vicinity of an industrial complex in Northwest Russia (Cherepovets)

Abstract

The characteristic properties of uptake and distribution of mercury in terrestrial ecosystems have received much lesser attention compared to aquatic particularly in Russia. Terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to large industrial manufactures-potential sources of mercury inflow into the environment frequently remain unstudied. This is the first report on mercury (Hg) levels in the basic elements of terrestrial ecosystems situated close to a large metallurgical complex.Mean values of mercury concentration (mg Hg/kg dry weight) in the vicinity of city of Cherepovets were the following: 0.056 ± 0.033-in the humus layer of soil; 0.556 ± 0.159-in earthworms; in the organs of voles Myodes glareolus (kidneys-0.021 ± 0.001; liver-0.014 ± 0.003; muscle-0.014 ± 0.001; brain-0.008 ± 0.002); in the organs of shrew Sorex araneus (kidneys-0.191 ± 0.016; liver-0.124 ± 0.011; muscle-0.108 ± 0.009; brain-0.065 ± 0.000). Correlation dependences between Hg content in soil and earthworms (r = 0.85, p< 0.01) as well as soil and all studied shrews' organs (rs = 0.44-0.58; p ≤ 0.01) were found.The results obtained evidence for a strong trophic link in the bioaccumulation of Hg in terrestrial food webs. Despite the vicinity to a large metallurgical complex, mercury content in the studied objects was significantly lower than values of corresponding parameters in the soils and biota from industrial (polluted) areas of Great Britain, the USA, and China.

Patterns of mercury accumulation in the organs of bank vole Myodes glareolus (Rodentia, Cricetidae)

“…Average concentrations in the kidneys of the white-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus and the short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda from industrial areas of the United States were 1.16 ± 1.16 and 38.8 ± 24.6 mg/kg wet weight, respectively (Talmage & Walton, 1993). The data obtained in this study and those available from the literature about the patterns of mercury distribution in the body tissues of small mammals are similar: Hg kidneys > Hg liver > Hg muscle > Hg brain (Jeffries & French, 1976;Komov et al, 2017). Concentrations of Hg in the muscle tissue of the bank voles did not exceed the values for the kidneys and liver, although this is not always the case as is known from the literature (Bull et al, 1977).…”

“…The average metal content in the organs of the bank voles from various biotopes of the Voronezh State Natural Biosphere Reserve was 0.005-0.090 mg/kg dry weight, in the common shrew (Sorex araneus) -0.041-0.500, in the Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) -0.041-0.209 (Komov et al, 2010). In the animals of the Forest Park "Zelyonaya Roshcha" (Green grove) located in the suburban area of Cherepovets (Vologda region, Russia) average Hg content ranged as follows: bank vole -0.001-0.140, common shrew -0.005-0.350 (Komov et al, 2017). In the liver of rodent species (Merriam's kangaroo rat Dipo-domys merriami, desert pocket mouse Chaetodipus penicillatus, cactus mouse Peromyscus eremicus, desert woodrat Neotoma lepida) captured in desert areas near Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, this index ranged from 0.002 to 0.01 (Gerstenberger et al, 2006).…”

“…The traps were placed in a line of 100 units, the captured rodents being collected every 24 hours. Sampling, storage, sample preparation, and determination of mercury (in three replications) in dry muscle, liver, kidney, and brain samples were performed using the standard previously described technique (Komov et al, 2017) in compliance with all necessary safety requirements. The Hg concentration in the samples was measured using a RA-915+ mercury analyzer with PYRO add-on device (Lumex) by the cold vapour atomic absorption method (the lower limit of mercury detection in the samples was 0.001 mg/kg).…”

Mercury Content in Tissues of Amphibians of Northwest Russia (Vologda Region)

“…Obtained data on the distribution of mercury in amphibians matches with data from the literature on this issue: the maximum сontents of the metal are found in the liver and the kidneys, the minimal is seen in the muscles and skin [16]. Studies on mercury accumulation in organs and tissues of mammals also show the maximal mercury сontent to be found in the liver and kidneys, in other words, in the organs that perform the function of detoxification [17], [18], [19].…”

Factors affecting the mercury concentration in the hair of young residents of the Vologda region, Russia

“…High mercury concentrations in fish can be recorded in regions that do not have local natural and anthropogenic sources of mercury emissions due to its global transportation with air masses ( Poulin and Gibb, 2008 ). So over the past decades in the Vologda Region, a high metal content in soil, earthworms, fish, organs of small and medium mammals, and pet hair has been regularly recorded ( Haines et al., 1995 ; Komov et al., 2017 , 2016 ; 2004 ; Bachina et al., 2018 ). In some lakes and reservoirs from western regions, the mercury content in fish muscles was noted ( Nemova et al., 2014 ), exceeding the sanitary and epidemiological standard levels of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg for freshwater non-predatory and predatory species, respectively ( SanPiN 2.3.2.1078-01, 2011 ).…”