Mercury in Waterfowl from Eastern Canada

Pearce, Philippa; Price, Iola M.; Reynolds, L.M.

doi:10.2307/3800565

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In 1971, an advisory was issued to hunters in northwestern Ontario that they should avoid eating common goldeneyes, blue-winged teal and mallards from the Wabigoon River system west of Dryden due to high Hg levels found in the birds as reported by Pearce et al (1976). In 1990, an advisory was issued recommending that the livers of common mergansers, surf scoters and western grebes from the Port Alberni area of British Columbia not be eaten due to high levels of dioxins in the livers of those species (Whitehead et al, 1990;Elliott and Martin, 1998).…”

Section: Waterfowl Consumption Guidelinesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The Canadian Crown reserves the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright. levels in edible tissues (Fimreite et al, 1971;Vermeer et al, 1973;Fimreite, 1974;Annett et al, 1975;Desai-Greenaway and Price, 1976;Pearce et al, 1976). Studies on organochlorine compounds in waterfowl collected from the Detroit River (Smith et al, 1985) and Lake St. Clair (Hebert et al, 1990) also suggested concern for the human consumer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Braune

Malone²

2006

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Samples of breast muscle from 32 species of waterfowl collected from 123 sites across Canada were analyzed for chlorobenzenes (CBz), chlordane-related compounds (CHL), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), DDT, mirex, dieldrin, PCBs and mercury. SigmaDDT, SigmaCBz and SigmaPCB were the compounds most frequently found above trace levels. SigmaHCH and SigmaMirex were detected the least often. Mercury was detected in all of the mergansers, over 50% of dabbling, bay and sea ducks, and in less than 2% of the geese analysed. The highest levels of contaminants were generally found in birds feeding at higher trophic levels such as sea ducks and mergansers. With the exception of a few samples of mergansers and long-tailed ducks from eastern Canada, which contained SigmaPCB concentrations of 1.0-2.4 mg kg(-1), SigmaPCB levels were less than 1 mg kg(-1) wet weight. Only one merganser from eastern Canada had a SigmaDDT concentration (2.6 mg kg(-1) ww) which was greater than 1 mg kg(-1) ww. The highest SigmaCHL (0.10 mg kg(-1) ww) was also found in mergansers from eastern Canada. Levels of total mercury in breast muscle were either low (< 1 mg kg(-1) ww) or below detection limits with the exception of a few samples of mergansers from eastern Canada which contained mercury concentrations of 1.0-1.5 mg kg(-1) ww. Health Canada determined that the organochlorine and mercury levels found in samples of breast muscle of ducks and geese analysed in this study did not pose a health hazard to human consumers and therefore these waterfowl were safe to eat.

show abstract

Section: Waterfowl Consumption Guidelinesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Braune

Malone²

2006

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Most studies of Hg residues in waterfowl have indicated that piscivorous ducks contained higher Hg residues than invertebrate feeders and that herbivorous ducks usually showed the lowest Hg levels [19,20]. Although invertebrate feeders and herbivorous birds have lower concentrations of Hg than waterfowl feeding at higher trophic levels, they still have been the focus of several contaminant studies [21–23]. Wood ducks ( Aix sponsa ) have been used in several contaminant studies [23–25] because they have a very wide geographical distribution in North America and can be studied easily because they are attracted to nest boxes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury patterns in wood duck eggs from a contaminated reservoir in South Carolina, USA

Kennamer

Stout

Jackson

et al. 2005

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mercury contamination of wildlife populations has been documented widely in recent years as biomonitoring has become an important tool for assessing environmental contamination. Avian eggs provide an ideal assay material for Hg biomonitoring, particularly when the collection of eggs is simplified by using cavity-nesting species that nest in easily monitored nest boxes. However, studies are needed that address the dynamics of how Hg is distributed within eggs, and how Hg is deposited naturally within clutches laid by a single female and among clutches laid by different females occupying the same contaminated environment. We collected 138 eggs from 13 complete clutches of box-nesting wood ducks (Aix sponsa) during 1991 and 1992 at a contaminated reservoir of the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA. Total Hg residues in egg components and clutches were determined, partitioning of Hg among egg components was examined, and effects of egg-laying sequence on egg component Hg levels were determined. Mean albumen Hg was 0.22 ppm wet mass, mean yolk Hg was 0.04 ppm, and mean shell Hg was 0.03 ppm. On average, 86.1% of total egg Hg was concentrated in the albumen, 11.2% in the yolk, and 2.7% in the shell. Mercury concentrations in all egg components varied significantly among clutches and between successive clutches laid by the same female in the same year. Laying sequence significantly affected Hg concentrations in the albumen and shell, but not in the yolk. Declines of albumen Hg due to laying sequence were more pronounced for clutches that contained higher average Hg levels. Our results suggest that collection of first-laid eggs may be preferable for assessing maximal Hg exposure to developing embryos, and that monitoring Hg levels through the use of empty eggshells following brood departure from nests may be valid only if the laying sequence is known.

show abstract

“…Muscle tissue Hg levels are generally examined in waterfowl (Pearce et al, 1976;Braune et al, 1999;Cohen et al, 2000), in part, to determine potential human health risks. Our data set supports other findings that muscle Hg levels are generally less than liver and kidney (Gardiner, 1972;Gochfeld, 1980) and that piscivorous waterfowl have muscle Hg levels significantly greater than other foraging guilds of waterfowl species (Fig.…”

Section: Tissue Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns and Interpretation of Mercury Exposure in Freshwater Avian Communities in Northeastern North America

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. A large data set of over 4,700 records of avian mercury (Hg) levels in northeastern North America was compiled and evaluated. As Hg emissions remain poorly regulated in the United States and Canada, atmospheric deposition patterns and associated ecological responses continue to elicit interest by landscape managers, conservation biologists, policy makers, and the general public. How avian Hg exposure is interpreted greatly influences decision-making practices. The geographic extent and size of this data set is valuable in understanding the factors that affect the exposure of Hg to birds. Featured are differences found among tissues, major aquatic habitats and geographic areas, between age class and gender, and among species. While Hg concentrations in egg and blood reflect short-term Hg exposure, Hg concentrations in liver and feather provide insight into long-term Hg exposure. Blood is a particularly important matrix for relating site-specific exposure to methylmercury (MeHg). The level of MeHg is generally 5-10x greater in adults compared to nestlings. Age also influences MeHg bioaccumulation, particularly for individuals where MeHg intake exceeds elimination. Gender is of interpretive concern when evaluating Hg exposure for species exhibiting sexual dimorphism and niche partitioning. Based on two indicator species, the belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), we found MeHg availability increased from marine, to estuarine and riverine systems, and was greatest in lake habitats. A large sample of >1,800 blood and egg Hg levels from the common loon (Gavia immer) facilitated a suitable comparison of geographic differences. Although some clusters of highly elevated Hg exposure (i.e., blood levels >3.0 lg/g, ww and egg levels >1.3 lg/g, ww) were associated with hydrological and biogeochemical factors known to increase MeHg production and availability, others were not. Geographic areas without a relationship between Hg exposure and biogeochemical processes were associated with emission or waterborne point sources. Differences in Hg exposure among species are primarily correlated with trophic position and availability of MeHg. Although piscivorous species were repeatedly *To whom correspondence should be addressed: Tel.: 207-839-7600; Fax: 207-839-7655; E-mail: david.evers@briloon.org Ecotoxicology, 14, 193-221, 2005 Ó 2005 shown to have some of the highest MeHg levels of the 38 species analyzed, insectivorous birds in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats (such as montane areas) were also found with elevated MeHg levels. A better understanding of the factors confounding interpretation of Hg exposure provides an effective basis for choice of indicator species and tissues according to 12 selected scenarios. This and the national need for spatiotemporal monitoring of MeHg availability require careful consideration of indicator species choice. Only then will local, regional, continental, and even global monitoring efforts be effective.

show abstract

Mercury in Waterfowl from Eastern Canada

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Mercury patterns in wood duck eggs from a contaminated reservoir in South Carolina, USA

Patterns and Interpretation of Mercury Exposure in Freshwater Avian Communities in Northeastern North America

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About