Toxicological significance of mercury in yellow perch in the Laurentian Great Lakes region

Wiener, James G.; Sandheinrich, Mark B.; Bhavsar, Satyendra P.; Bohr, Joseph R.; Evers, David C.; Monson, Bruce A.; Schrank, Candy S.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2011.09.025

Cited by 47 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Perch are known to be sensitive to MeHg in nature (Wiener et al 2012) and increasing number of studies are utilizing them as a laboratory model (Kwon et al, 2012). Here, female yellow perch were fed pellets containing nominal MeHgCl concentrations of 0, 0.5, 5, and 50 μg/g.…”

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of methylmercury on epigenetic markers in three model species: Mink, chicken and yellow perch

Basu¹,

Head²,

Nam³

et al. 2013

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology &

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We previously reported that methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is associated with DNA hypomethylation in the brain stem of male polar bears. Here, we conveniently use archived tissues obtained from controlled laboratory exposure studies to look for evidence that MeHg can disrupt DNA methylation across taxa. Brain (cerebrum) tissues from MeHg-exposed mink (Neovison vison), chicken (Gallus gallus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were analyzed for total Hg levels and global DNA methylation. Tissues from chicken and mink, but not perch, were also analyzed for DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity. In mink we observed significant reductions in global DNA methylation in an environmentally-relevant dietary exposure group (1ppm MeHg), but not in a higher group (2ppm MeHg). DNMT activity was significantly reduced in all treatment groups. In chicken or yellow perch, no statistically significant effects of MeHg were observed. Dose-dependent trends were observed in the chicken data but the direction of the change was not consistent between the two endpoints. Our results suggest that MeHg can be epigenetically active in that it has the capacity to affect DNA methylation in mammals. The variability in results across species may suggest inter-taxa differences in epigenetic responses to MeHg, or may be related to differences among the exposure scenarios used as animals were exposed to MeHg through different routes (dietary, egg injection), for different periods of time (19 – 89 days) and at different life stages (embryonic, juvenile, adult).

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Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of methylmercury on epigenetic markers in three model species: Mink, chicken and yellow perch

Basu¹,

Head²,

Nam³

et al. 2013

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology &

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“…Mercury (Hg) exposure from fish and seafood consumption results in both human and wildlife health effects [1]–[5]. However, while much of the research on food web processes influencing Hg concentrations in fish has been conducted in freshwater systems, approximately 90% of fish consumed in the US comes from estuarine and marine systems [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic and Pelagic Pathways of Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in Estuarine Food Webs of the Northeast United States

et al. 2014

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Methylmercury (MeHg) is a contaminant of global concern that bioaccumulates and bioamagnifies in marine food webs. Lower trophic level fauna are important conduits of MeHg from sediment and water to estuarine and coastal fish harvested for human consumption. However, the sources and pathways of MeHg to these coastal fisheries are poorly known particularly the potential for transfer of MeHg from the sediment to biotic compartments. Across a broad gradient of human land impacts, we analyzed MeHg concentrations in food webs at ten estuarine sites in the Northeast US (from the Hackensack Meadowlands, NJ to the Gulf of Maine). MeHg concentrations in water column particulate material, but not in sediments, were predictive of MeHg concentrations in fish (killifish and Atlantic silversides). Moreover, MeHg concentrations were higher in pelagic fauna than in benthic-feeding fauna suggesting that MeHg delivery to the water column from methylation sites from within or outside of the estuary may be an important driver of MeHg bioaccumulation in estuarine pelagic food webs. In contrast, bulk sediment MeHg concentrations were only predictive of concentrations of MeHg in the infaunal worms. Our results across a broad gradient of sites demonstrate that the pathways of MeHg to lower trophic level estuarine organisms are distinctly different between benthic deposit feeders and forage fish. Thus, even in systems with contaminated sediments, transfer of MeHg into estuarine food webs maybe driven more by the efficiency of processes that determine MeHg input and bioavailability in the water column.

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“…Moreover, the majority of studies that do report MeHg effects on wild fish focus on areas with direct industrial contamination [6,7], or rivers and reservoirs impacted by human actions [8][9][10]. Throughout North America, however, many fish populations inhabit aquatic systems that are remote from human activities, but have whole-body MeHg concentrations (e.g., [11,12]) that exceed the 0.2 mg g À1 wet weight (whole body) threshold that has been proposed to be protective of fish health [13]. The few studies that have been conducted in remote systems indicate that MeHg may be affecting the health of these fish, including reports of decreased condition and increased liver color (due to increased lipofuscin, a pigment resulting from lipid peroxidation) [14], kidney and spleen damage (measured by macrophage aggregates; MAs) [15], and decreased liver size [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of impaired health in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from a biological mercury hotspot in northeastern north America

Batchelar

Kidd

Drevnick

et al. 2013

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Few studies have investigated the effects of mercury (Hg) on wild fish from remote areas, even though these fish can have high total Hg concentrations. In Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (KNPNHS), Nova Scotia, Canada, concentrations of total Hg in many yellow perch (Perca flavescens) currently exceed the estimated threshold level for adverse effects in fish (0.2 mg Hg g À1 (wet wt), whole body). To determine whether Hg exposure is adversely affecting the general health of these fish, the authors collected male and female perch in the fall of 2009 and 2010 from 12 lakes within KNPNHS. The health endpoints condition, liver somatic index (LSI), and macrophage aggregates (MAs; indicators of oxidative stress and tissue damage) in the liver, kidney, and spleen were examined, and in female perch were compared between lakes and related to Hg concentrations measured in the muscle and liver tissue. No negative relationships between fish condition or LSI and Hg were found. However, within the liver, kidney, and spleen tissues of females, the relative area occupied by MAs was positively related to both muscle and liver Hg concentrations, indicating the health of these perch was adversely affected at the cellular level. These findings raise concerns for the health of these perch as well as for other wild fish populations known to have similarly elevated Hg concentrations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:627-637. # 2012 SETAC

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Toxicological significance of mercury in yellow perch in the Laurentian Great Lakes region

Cited by 47 publications

References 40 publications

Effects of methylmercury on epigenetic markers in three model species: Mink, chicken and yellow perch

Effects of methylmercury on epigenetic markers in three model species: Mink, chicken and yellow perch

Benthic and Pelagic Pathways of Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in Estuarine Food Webs of the Northeast United States

Evidence of impaired health in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from a biological mercury hotspot in northeastern north America

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