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1.
We relate fish biological and ecological characteristics to total and organic mercury concentrations to determine whether accumulation is influenced by trophic level, Hg concentration in the diet, and vertical distribution. Levels of total mercury and methylmercury were determined in the muscle tissue of eight species of fish: Pagellus acarne, Trachurus picturatus, Phycis phycis, P. blennoides, Polyprion americanus, Conger conger, Lepidopus caudatus and Mora moro, caught in the Azores. All such fishes are commercially valuable and were selected to include species from a wide range of vertical distributions from epipelagic (<200 m) to mesopelagic (>300 m) environments. Methylmercury was the major form accumulated in all species, comprising an average of 88.1% of total mercury. Concentrations of mercury (total and methylmercury) increased with age, length and weight. Based on data from other studies, mercury concentrations in fish diet were estimated. Mercury levels in food ranged from 0.08 to 0.32 ppm, dry weight. Hg concentrations in the food and in muscle tissue from different species were positively correlated. Total Hg levels in the muscles were approximately nine times those estimated in food. Total mercury concentrations in muscle were positively correlated with both trophic level and median depth. Such enhanced mercury bioaccumulation in relation to depth appears to be determined primarily by concentrations in food and ultimately by water chemistry, which controls mercury speciation and uptake at the base of the food chain.  相似文献   

2.
Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) have low hatching and emergence success compared to other sea turtle species. Postmortem examinations of hatchlings showed degeneration of heart and skeletal muscle that was similar to that found in other neonates with selenium deficient mothers. Selenium deficiency can result from elevated concentrations of bodily mercury. Ingested mercury is detoxified by the liver through mercury-selenium compound formation. In animals persistently exposed to mercury, the liver’s ability to detoxify this element may decrease, especially if dietary selenium is insufficient. We measured mercury and selenium concentrations in nesting female leatherbacks and their hatchlings from Florida and compared the levels to hatching and emergence success. Both liver selenium and the liver selenium-to-mercury ratio positively correlated with leatherback hatching and emergence success. This study provides the first evidence for the roles of mercury and selenium in explaining low reproductive success in a globally imperiled species, the leatherback sea turtle.  相似文献   

3.
A sampling and measuring device which enables the assessment of atmospheric particulate and gaseous mercury concentrations has been tested on Mount Etna Volcano. Particulate matter is collected on a Whatman GF/C of 1.0 µm pore-size, gaseous mercury species on a Au-column. The analysis is carried out in two steps: (1) the mercury species collected on the filter or the Au-column are transferred to a fixed analytical Au-column; (2) mercury liberated from this column during the second step is detected with a Mercury Vapour Monitor. Average concentrations of gaseous and particulate mercury in ambient sampling sites on Mount Etna are 3.8 ng m?3 and 0.49 ng m?3 respectively. Average concentrations of gaseous and particulate mercury in the plume of Bocca Nuova on Mount Etna are 15 ng m?3 and 24 ng m?3 respectively. An estimation of the total mercury discharge from Mount Etna amounts to 2.5 10?2 tons day?1.  相似文献   

4.
Mercury concentrations in stomach contents and muscle tissue are reported for five fish species: herring (Clupea harengus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), roker (Raja clavata), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and dab (Limanda limanda) collected in summer 1992 off the mouth of the River Tyne, North East England. Median muscle mercury concentrations in the area increase in the order plaice < herring < roker < dab < whiting. Absolute mercury concentrations and muscle mercury-length relationships indicate that the environmental availability of mercury in the study area is low. Stomach contents were recovered from dab, plaice and roker only. Median mercury concentrations in stomach contents increased in the order plaice < roker < dab. The variability of the ratio (muscle mercury/stomach content mercury) has been examined for these three species. In dab the variation is relatively low (39.7% RSD), whereas in plaice and roker it is considerably higher (128.4% and 184.6%, respectively). If stomach content mercury concentrations accurately reflect local mercury availability then dab muscle tissue would make a more reliable availability index than muscle tissue of plaice or roker.  相似文献   

5.
Mercury can accumulate in the human body from fish and from other environmental sources, and the amount accumulated is indicated by hair mercury concentration. Anthropogenic mercury losses in many countries have been correlated with Gross National Product (GNP, an indicator of industrial activity), and industrial density (represented by GNP/land area, i.e. GNP/LA) has been used as an indicator of potential pollution for coastal fishing grounds. For a data set taken from the literature, 30% of the 54% variability in hair mercury concentrations explained by national fish consumption can also be explained by GNP/LA. However, using new data, the effect of GNP and GNP/LA on the amount of mercury accumulated in hair of people from many countries was insignificant compared to the effect of national fish consumption. 74.1% of the variability in the hair mercury levels of people who ate the same number of meals of fish was explained by the national average fish consumption. This suggests that fish species and fish size are more important than general indicators of mercury pollution when estimating the mercury accumulation in humans on an international scale.  相似文献   

6.
Wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri, are predatory oceanic fish that occur and are harvested in all tropical and subtropical oceans. Total mercury concentrations analyzed in dorsal muscle tissue of 208 wahoo from offshore waters of the southeastern United States and the Bahamas ranged from 0.021 to 3.4 mg/kg (wet weight), with a mean of 0.50 mg/kg (± 0.595 SD). Analyses indicated significant positive linear relationships between mercury and length, as well as, age of wahoo. The piscivorous nature, generally high trophic position, fast growth rate, and associated high metabolism of wahoo within tropical offshore pelagic environments may lead to comparatively higher concentrations of mercury over relatively short time periods. Mercury in wahoo, a highly mobile species consisting of one world-wide population, is regionally influenced by large-scale spatial differences in available mercury in selected prey fish species - many of which have been found to contain relatively high concentrations of mercury.  相似文献   

7.
The focus of this work is to explore the use of the netted whelk, Nassarius reticulatus (L.), as an indicator of mercury (Hg) contamination, by assessing the concentration of Hg in the sediments and in the whelk along the entire Portuguese coast. Total Hg concentrations ranged from below the detection limit (0.01 ng absolute mercury) up to 0.87 mg kg(-1) dry weight (dwt) in sediments and between 0.06 and 1.02 mg kg(-1) (dwt) for organisms, with no significant differences between males and females. Although organic mercury was not detected in the sediments, it represented, on average, 52% of the total Hg in the whelk tissues, and as high as 88% in some cases, suggesting mercury accumulation from dietary intake. Significant negative correlations were found between the total Hg concentrations in the sediments and the log(10) of Hg concentrations in whelk tissues males (r=-0.64; P<0.01) and females (r=-0.52; P<0.01) indicating that the species is a poor indicator of Hg contamination. Nevertheless, since the highest concentrations of organic mercury in the whelk tissues were found in the least contaminated areas, this species must be highly relevant in the trophic web, namely on the possible biomagnification of mercury. The high dietary mercury accumulation from feeding on carrion and the low bioavailability of mercury to whelks in estuarine sediments may be the basis of the mercury accumulation pattern in N. reticulatus.  相似文献   

8.
Heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of marine turtles are presented. The most frequently monitored elements are mercury, cadmium and lead; and the tissues mainly analysed in nearly all the stranded individuals are muscle, liver and kidney. The highest mercury and cadmium levels were found in liver and kidney respectively; the majority of the lead burden existed in bones and carapace, while arsenic was present mainly in muscle tissue. Mercury occurred quite completely as methylmercury in muscle, whereas in liver the main form was the inorganic one. Arsenic was exclusively present in the metallorganic form either in muscle tissue or in liver. Metals in the eggs were mainly present in the yolk. Significantly higher concentration of mercury, copper, zinc and iron were found in yolk than albumen, while shell contained highest levels of manganese and copper. The load of trace metals in these animals strictly correlated with the species seems to depend on their different food behaviour.  相似文献   

9.
The Hg concentration in horned octopus was studied in relation to its biological cycle. The metal was measured in the muscle tissue of specimens of different size, sex and maturity. This species proved to be a strong accumulator of mercury, whose concentration was found to be correlated with length independently of the sex. The relationship with size was found also for the organic form. Consideration was given to the danger of frequent consumption of this cephalopod and to its use as a biomonitor of environmental mercury impact.  相似文献   

10.
《Marine pollution bulletin》2013,70(1-2):110-115
The main aim of this study was to ascertain the biomagnification processes in a mercury-contaminated estuary, by clarifying the trophic web structure through stable isotope ratios. For this purpose, primary producers (seagrasses and macroalgae), invertebrates (detritivores and benthic predators) and fish were analysed for total and organic mercury and for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures. Trophic structure was accurately described by δ15N, while δ13C reflected the carbon source for each species. An increase of mercury levels was observed with trophic level, particularly for organic mercury. Results confirm mercury biomagnification to occur in this estuarine food web, especially in the organic form, both in absolute concentrations and fraction of total mercury load. Age can be considered an important variable in mercury biomagnification studies, and data adjustments to account for the different exposure periods may be necessary for a correct assessment of trophic magnification rates and ecological risk.  相似文献   

11.
The Seine’s estuary (France) waters are the receptacle of effluents originating from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this estuary, mudflats are deposition zones for sediments and their associated contaminants, and play an essential role in the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle mainly due to indigenous microorganisms. Microcosms were used to assess the impact of WWTP-effluents on mercury methylation by monitoring Hg species (total dissolved Hg in porewater, methylmercury and total mercury) and on microbial communities in sediments. After effluent amendment, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations increased in relation with the total Hg and organic matter content of the WWTP-effluents. A correlation was observed between MeHg and acid-volatile-sulfides concentrations. Quantification of sulfate-reducing microorganisms involved in Hg methylation showed no increase of their abundance but their activity was probably enhanced by the organic matter supplied with the effluents. WWTP-effluent spiking modified the bacterial community fingerprint, mainly influenced by Hg contamination and the organic matter amendment.  相似文献   

12.
The monitoring programme of harmful substances in selected species in the Baltic Sea was started in 1979. In the present study, three-year averages of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in cod liver (Hg in cod muscle) and herring muscle are reported. The concentrations of heavy metals in cod show areal differences roughly in accordance with the concentrations of heavy metals in sea water. No significant differences between heavy metal concentrations in North Atlantic and Baltic Sea species were found, except for mercury, for which values in the Baltic Sea species are lower than in those from the North Atlantic.  相似文献   

13.
During April 1975 thirty-six muscle samples of six predacious species of fish from the Andaman sea were collected for an analysis of their total mercury concentrations. The total mercury levels ranged from 0.026 to 0.234 ppm in yellowfin tuna (Neothunnus albacora), from 0.027 to 0.233 ppmin bigeye tuna (Parathunnus sibi), and from 0.057 to 0.478 ppm in four species of shark. Statistical analysis also showed positive linear regression and there was correlation between the mercury concentration and the weight of the yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and shark. The rates of total mercury accumulation in yellowfin and bigeye tuna were not significantly different. A comparison between the total mercury level in the Andaman yellowfin and the Central Pacific yellowfin tuna is discussed.  相似文献   

14.
The concentrations of copper, zinc, cadmium, selenium and mercury were determined in eggs, muscle, liver, kidney and stomach content of nestilings and adults of the Antarctic petrel, Thalassoica antarctica, and its predator, the south polar skua, Chataracta maccormicki, from Svarthamaren, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. The dominant food of the petrels is krill, Euphausia superba. The results show relatively high levels of cadmium in krill, which is assumed to be the main reason for the high levels of cadmium in petrels and skuas. Cadmium is almost absent in eggs, but accumulates very rapidly with age in nestlings. The copper concentrations in livers of nestling petrels reach very high levels during growth. This may be seen in connection with physiological development processes. Mercury seems to be accumulated with age and between trophic levels. Among the nestlings, the mercury levels decrease with increasing age, which may be accomplished by the excretion of mercury through the growth of feathers and as a dilution effect during growth. Selenium and mercury are inversely correlated in nestlings. The levels of zinc were similar for different nestling stages and between nestlings and adults in skuas and petrels.  相似文献   

15.
Muscles of 115 North Pacific albacore (ALB, Thunnus alalunga) and 75 Pacific bigeye tuna (BET, Thunnus obesus), collected from 2001 to 2006, were analyzed. No ALB, but 13 large BET had organic mercury (OHg) concentrations exceeding 1 μg g−1 wet weight. For both ALB and BET, total mercury (THg) and OHg concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with fork length (FL) and body weight. The muscle Hg bioaccumulation rates of BET were higher than those of ALB, particularly in the adult fish. Moreover, the lines had crossover points among the two species that imply the young BET (FL < 110 cm) contains lower muscle Hg concentrations than ALB of the same size. The suggested weekly dietary intake of ALB and small-BET meats is 340 g, and of BET meat it is 150 g for a 60-kg person based on the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of methylmercury set by the WHO.  相似文献   

16.
In the present study, we sought to determine the concentration of several trace elements (total and organic mercury, selenium, cadmium, lead, arsenic, copper, chromium, iron, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium and zinc) in muscle tissue of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), an edible finfish species that is widely cultured in the Mediterranean area. The phenomenon of bioaccumulation and bioamplification (especially of mercury) was investigated by comparing farmed fish with wild specimens of the same species. Farmed specimens showed mercury and arsenic concentrations significantly lower than wild specimens, and no relationship was found between mercury concentration and body size. The lower level of methylmercury in farmed fish has important implications for consumer health.  相似文献   

17.
Mercury releases into Lavaca Bay resulted in public health notices and a fishing closure for crabs and finfish. Mercury containing wastewater discharges were halted in 1970, but sediments were contaminated with mercury. The sediments are a source of mercury to the benthic food web via methylation. Mercury in water column feeding organisms has decreased markedly. Concentrations in benthic food web organisms remain elevated. Human consumption concerns for oysters have ended, but a closure for fishing for crabs and finfish continues. Monitoring of mercury in organisms since 1977 shows a gradual downward trend in mercury in crabs and finfish, but this was not sufficient to remove the closure. Continued releases of mercury, man's activities, and resuspension of sediments keep mercury in the sediment's biologically active zone. This enables the uptake of mercury via the benthic food web. If releases are ended, it will take years for the mercury to decrease to concentrations not of concern for human consumption. If more remediation to reduce the mercury concentrations in the sediments takes place, decrease of mercury in the organisms might occur more quickly.  相似文献   

18.
The role of sulphide-containing species in sediments in the mobilization of mercury in the environment is demonstrated. The mobile species is the volatile hydrophobic dimethyl mercury. Transport to atmosphere in this form may account for a loss of about 12% annually of methyl mercury from sediments and may therefore be a substantive part of the biogeochemical cycling of mercury in the environment.  相似文献   

19.
Methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic mercury (Hginorg) were evaluated in the water of a Brazilian estuary, with two size classes of plankton and seven fish species of different feeding habits. Water partition coefficients (PCs) in microplankton were fourfold higher for MeHg than for Hginorg; and water PCs in mesoplankton were 26 times higher for MeHg than Hginorg. Difference between microplankton and mesoplankton MeHg bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was higher (0.60 log units) than Hginorg BAF (0.24 log units), indicating that trophic transfer of MeHg between planktonic organisms is more efficient than Hginorg transference. MeHg concentrations, proportion of mercury as MeHg and its biotransference factors (BTFs) in the microplankton, mesoplankton and fish increased with increasing trophic level while biotic concentrations of Hginorg and proportion of mercury as Hginorg decreased thus indicating that MeHg was indeed the biomagnified species of mercury. MeHg reflected the vertical trophic guilds distribution, due to the fact that the top predator fish presented the highest concentration (0.77 μg g−1 d.w.), followed by the less voracious species (0.43 μg g−1 d.w.); while planktivorous fish presented the lowest concentrations (0.044 μg g−1 d.w.). Hginorg did not present the same behavior. Results suggest that feeding habits and trophic guild are important parameters, influencing biotransference and biomagnification processes.  相似文献   

20.
Total mercury, methyl mercury and sulphide contents of River Carron sediments (Lothian, Scotland) have been determined. Total mercury concentrations are comparable to other mercury polluted estuaries in the UK, but the methyl mercury values for low-sulphide Carron sediments are generally higher. It has been found that methyl mercury levels are initially in direct proportion to the sulphide concentrations of the sediments but beyond sulphide concentrations of 1.8 mg g?1 the methyl mercury levels decline sharply.  相似文献   

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