Selection of Bioindicators of Pollution for Marine Monitoring Programmes

The ultimate management concerns related to toxic chemicals in the marine environment are for the magnitude and extent of biological effects, including those on human health, that may result. Over the past several years, the National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has supported the development and application of a number of bioeffects measurements, including biochemical indicators of contaminant exposure and of reproductive status in fish, prevalence of histopathological lesions, toxicity bioassays of sediments and water, and benthic community structural features. Some of these measurements have been applied as part of regular sampling at the nationwide network of NS&T sites, while others have been assessed in more intensive, regional studies. Our experience with different indicators is summarized and discussed in relation to a set of monitoring objectives and evaluation criteria. Current conclusions are: (a) iterative application of controlled laboratory experiments and field validation tests are required to verify causality and mechanisms of biological responses to contaminants; (b) contaminant concentrations, indicator species, and local conditions vary considerably in different areas and at different times, requiring the use of different effects measurements oriented toward specific objectives and hypotheses; and (c) tiered, sequential application of a mix of indicators, including direct measurements on indigenous organisms and indirect bioassay approaches, is useful and effective for estimating the magnitude and spatial extent of contaminant bioeffects.     

Chemistry of methylmercurials in aqueous solution

The kinetics of acid cleavage of dimethylmercury (DMM) was studied in aqueous solution. At 25°C and pH 5, DMM has an acidolysis half-life of about 33 years. Cleavage of dimethylmercury by mercuric species is pH-dependent and is slow at the concentrations of mercuric species in solution in the aquatic environment. Dimethylmercury and methylmercuric ion do not undergo sunlight photodegradation. The evaporative loss of dimethylmercury from water can be compared with oxygen diffusion based on the ratio of transfer constants.