A comparison of fish tissue mercury concentrations from homogenized fillet and nonlethal biopsy plugs

The use of biopsy plugs to sample fish muscle tissue for mercury analyses is a viable alternative to lethal sampling; however, the practice has yet to be widely implemented in routine monitoring due to concerns about variability of mercury concentrations in fish muscle tissues. Here we examine distribution of mercury in fillets of four fish species (Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass and Lake Trout), suitability of left/right side of fillet for biopsy sampling, and appropriateness of re-using a biopsy punch. The results showed that average mercury concentrations in left and right fillets of fish are similar. Mercury concentrations in biopsy plug samples, taken from the anterior dorsal area of the fish fillet, were statistically equivalent to the mercury concentrations in homogenized fillets. There was no discernible cross contamination between samples when a biopsy punch was reused after washing in hot soapy water, and as such, biopsy punches can be recycled during sampling to reduce the sampling cost. If a tissue mass collected from a specific site on the fillet is insufficient, then we suggest sampling corresponding locations on the other fillet rather than sampling two adjacent sites on one fillet to obtain more tissue. The results presented here can improve the accuracy of fillet biopsy plug sampling, minimize fish mortality for mercury monitoring, and reduce labor and material costs in monitoring programs.     

Multi-drug resistance,integron and transposon-mediated gene transfer in heterotrophic bacteria from Penaeus vannamei and its culture environment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in bacteria is regarded as an emerging pollutant in different food production avenues including aquaculture. One hundred...     

Greenhouse gas emissions of biosolid and cow manure during composting and vermicomposting and when applied to soil cultivated with wheat (Triticum sp. L.)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biosolids are a by-product of wastewater treatment, and their nutritional composition makes them ideal for fertilizing crops. However, pre-treatments,...     

Biomarker-assisted assessment of aquatic health using the cosmopolitan common carp,Cyprinus carpio (L): a case study of bisphenol-A exposures

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Monitoring aquatic health from environmental pollutants is critical, none more so than bisphenol-A (BPA), a ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemical...