Mercury bioaccumulation in fish in an artificial lake used to carry out cage culture

As a global toxic pollutant,mercury(Hg)bioaccumulation within food chain could be influenced by human disturbance.Ten typical fish species were collected from Changshou Lake,an artificial lake used to carry out cage fish culture,to investigate the C/N isotopic compositions and Hg bioaccumulation in fish.The results showed that the total Hg(THg)and methylmercury(MeHg)levels in fish muscles((56.03±43.96)and(32.35±29.57)ng/g,wet weight),comparable with those in most studies in China,were significantly lower than the international marketing limit(0.5 mg/kg).Past human input for cage culture in this lake led to abnormal~(15)N enrichment in food chain,as the quantitative trophic levels based onδ~(15)N were different with that classified by feeding behaviors.This phenomenon subsequently demonstrated that it should be considered thoughtfully with respect to the application of the traditional method for understanding Hg bioaccumulation power by the slope of log_(10)[Hg]withδ~(15)N regression in specific water body(i.e.,Changshou Lake).In addition,no significant linear correlation between Hg and body weight or length of some fish species was observed,suggesting that the fish growth in the eutrophic environment was disproportionate with Hg bioaccumulation,and fish length or weight was not the main factor affecting Hg transfer with food web.The occurrence of human disturbance in aquatic system presents a challenge to a better understanding of the Hg bioaccumulation and biomagnification within the food chain.     

An experimental ecotoxicological study and its application to the behavioural study of organic mercury (CH3HgCl) in the environment: influence of temperature and pH

Laboratory experiments were carried out to study the influence of temperature (24, 28 and 30 °C) and pH (1–10) on organic mercury (CH₃HgCl) transfer and accumulation in an experimental ecotoxicological model. We followed the evolution of CH₃HgCl in a basic model (water+air) by varying temperature and pH. In a second step, we completed the model by adding sediment and fish. We added CH₃HgCl to water at the beginning of each experiment which was repeated at least three times. Results demonstrated that mercury was released from methylmercury into the air regardless of water pH and its concentration in the air increased with increasing pH. By contrast, in presence of sediment, almost all the mercury was fixed onto the sediment and no mercury was traced in air or in water. Interestingly, in the presence of sediment, the life span of fish under methylmercury exposure lasted longer despite their higher mercury body level content at their death. These results indicate that water is a bad exposure indicator for aquatic pollution. In case of chronic pollution, sediments, fish and aquatic plants are more appropriate indicators.     

Mercury in soil, vegetable and human hair in a typical mining area in China: Implication for human exposure

Concentrations of total mercury(T-Hg) and methylmercury(MeHg) in soil, vegetables, and human hair were measured in a mercury mining area in central China. T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in soil ranged from 1.53 to 1054.97 mg/kg and 0.88 to 46.52 μg/kg, respectively.T-Hg concentrations was correlated with total organic carbon(TOC) content(R~2= 0.50, p0.01)and pH values(R~2= 0.21, p0.05). A significant linear relationship was observed between MeHg concentrations and the abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB)(R~2= 0.39, p0.05) in soil.Soil incubation experiments amended with specific microbial stimulants and inhibitors showed that Hg methylation was derived from SRB activity. T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in vegetables were 24.79 – 781.02 μg/kg and 0.01 – 0.18 μg/kg, respectively; levels in the edible parts were significantly higher than in the roots(T-Hg: p0.05; MeHg: p0.01). Hg species concentrations in rhizosphere soil were positively correlated to those in vegetables(p0.01), indicating that soil was an important source of Hg in vegetables. Risk assessment indicated that the consumption of vegetables could result in higher probable daily intake(PDI) of T-Hg than the provisional tolerable daily intake(PTDI) for both adults and children. In contrast, the PDI of MeHg was lower than the reference dose. T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in hair samples ranged from 1.57 to 12.61 mg/kg and 0.04 to 0.94 mg/kg, respectively, and MeHg concentration in hair positively related to PDI of MeHg via vegetable consumption(R~2= 0.39, p0.05), suggesting that vegetable may pose health risk to local residents.     

Assessing the utility of dissolved organic matter photoreactivity as a predictor of in situ methylmercury concentration

Methylmercury(MeHg) bioaccumulation is a growing concern in ecosystems worldwide. The absorption of solar radiation by dissolved organic matter(DOM) and other photoreactive ligands can convert MeHg into less toxic forms of mercury through photodemethylation. In this study, spectral changes and photoreactivity of DOM were measured to assess the potential to control photoreactions and predict in situ MeHg concentration. Water samples collected from a series of lakes in southwestern Nova Scotia in June, August, and September were exposed to controlled ultraviolet-A(UV-A) radiation for up to 24 hr. Dissolved organic matter photoreactivity, measured as the loss of absorbance at 350 nm at constant UV-A irradiation, was positively dependent on the initial DOM concentration in lake waters(r~2=0.94). This relationship was consistent over time with both DOM concentration and photoreactivity increasing from summer into fall across lakes. Lake in situ MeHg concentration was positively correlated with DOM concentration and likely catchment transport in June(r = 0.77) but not the other sampling months. Despite a consistent seasonal variation in both DOM and Fe, and their respective correlations with MeHg, no discernable seasonal trend in MeHg was observed. However, a 3-year dataset from the 6 study lakes revealed a positive correlation between DOM concentration and both Fe(r = 0.91) and MeHg concentrations(r = 0.51) suggesting a more dominant landscape mobility control on MeHg.The DOM-MeHg relationships observed in these lakes highlights the need to examine DOM photoreactivity controls on MeHg transport and availability in natural waters particularly given future climate perturbations.     

Effects of soil properties on production and bioaccumulation of methylmercury in rice paddies at a mercury mining area, China

Rice paddy soil is recognized as the hotspot of mercury(Hg) methylation, which is mainly a biotic process mediated by many abiotic factors. In this study, effects of key soil properties on the production and bioaccumulation of Hg and methylmercury(MeHg) in Hg-contaminated rice paddies were investigated. Rice and soil samples were collected from the active Hg smelting site and abandoned Hg mining sites(a total of 124 paddy fields) in the Wanshan Mercury Mine, China. Total Hg(THg) and MeHg in soils and rice grains, together with sulfur(S),selenium(Se), organic matter(OM), nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), mineral compositions(e.g., SiO_2, Al_2O_3 and Fe_2O_3) and pH in soils were quantified. The results showed that long-term Hg mining activities had resulted in THg and MeHg contaminations in soil-rice system. The newly-deposited atmospheric Hg was more readily methylated relative to the native Hg already in soils, which could be responsible for the elevated MeHg levels in soils and rice grains around the active artificial Hg smelting site. The MeHg concentrations in soils and rice grains showed a significantly negative relationship with soil N/Hg, S/Hg and OM/Hg ratio possibly due to the formation of low-bioavailability Hg–S(N)–OM complexes in rhizosphere. The Hg–Se antagonism undoubtedly occurred in soil-rice system, while its role in bioaccumulation of MeHg in the MeHg-contaminated rice paddies was minor. However, other soil properties showed less influence on the production and bioaccumulation of MeHg in rice paddies located at the Wanshan Mercury Mine zone.     

Water level fluctuations influence microbial communities and mercury methylation in soils in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Reservoirs tend to have enhanced methylmercury(MeHg) concentrations compared to natural lakes and rivers, and water level fluctuations can promote MeHg production. Until now, little research has been conducted on the effects of microorganisms in soils for the formation of MeHg during different drying and flooding alternating conditions in the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR). This study aimed to understand how water level fluctuations affect soil microbial composition and mercury concentrations, and if such microbial variations are related to Hg methylation. The results showed that MeHg concentrations and the ratios of MeHg to THg(MeHg%) in soils were higher in the seasonally drying and flooding alternating areas(DFAs, 175–155 m) than those in the non-inundated(NIAs, 175 m) and inundated areas(IAs, 145 m). However, MeHg% in all samples was less than 1%, indicating that the Hg methylation activity in the soils of the TGR was under a low level. 454 highthroughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene amplicons showed that soil bacterial abundance and diversity were relatively higher in DFA compared to those in NIA and IA, and microbial community composition varied in these three areas. At the family level, those groups in Deltaproteobacteria and Methanomicrobia that might have many Hg methylators were also showed a higher relative abundance in DFA, which might be the reason for the higher MeHg production in these areas. Overall, our results suggested that seasonally water level fluctuations can enhance the microbial abundance and diversity, as well as MeHg production in the TGR.     

水相二聚衍生化顶空- GC/MS分析水中甲基汞

用巯基棉富集水样中甲基汞,盐酸溶液洗脱.在pH≈6条件下,甲基汞在四甲氧基硼酸钠产生的自由基作用下生成易挥发的(CH3Hg)2,用带碳捕集管的顶空浓缩,GC/MS分析.此反应为二级反应,甲基汞浓度与响应值的平方根成正比.检出限为8.5ng/L,加标回收率在61％ ～75％之间.     

Reflections about three influential Ambio articles impacting environmental biogeochemistry research and knowledge: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Environmental contaminants

Reflections about three influential environmental contaminants papers published in Ambio are presented. The PCB Story by Jensen in (1972) had a very important influence on environmental chemistry. This is captured by way of comments and personal anecdotes. Wania’s and MacKay’s (1993) paper highlights the physical chemistry underlying transport of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides from temperate zone ecosystems to Polar Regions. Their paper exemplifies how principles of chemistry and environmental processes informed understanding the biogeochemical cycles of chemicals of environmental concern (CEC). Mergler et al.’s (2007) paper reviews knowledge of methyl mercury exposure and impacts in humans and served as an example of how to approach exposure and human health concerns for all CECs. All great progress. Then, the question: “How we missed for two decades the importance of plastics in the environment identified in a paper published the same year as The PCB Story? Are we missing yet another important environmental contaminant now?     

Relations between mercury fractions and microbial community components in seawater under the presence and absence of probable phosphorus limitation conditions

Microbial transformations of toxic monomethylmercury(MMHg) and dissolved gaseous mercury(DGM) at the lower levels of the marine food web are not well understood, especially in oligotrophic and phosphorus-limited seas. To examine the effects of probable phosphorus limitation(~PP-limitation) on relations between mercury(Hg) fractions and microorganisms, we determined the total mercury(THg), total methylated mercury(MeHg), DGM, and microbiological and chemical parameters in the Central Adriatic Sea. Using statistical analysis, we assessed the potential microbial effects on Hg transformations and bioaccumulation. Only in the absence of ~PP-limitation conditions(~(NO–P)P-limitation) is MeHg significantly related to most chemical and microbial parameters, indicating metabolism-dependent Hg transformations.The heterotrophic activity of low nucleic acid bacteria(abundant in oligotrophic regions)seems responsible for most of Hg methylation under ~(NO–P)P-limitation. Under these conditions,DGM is strongly related to microbial fractions and chlorophyll a, indicating biological DGM production, which is probably not metabolically induced, as most of these relations are also observed underPP-limitation. MMHg biomagnification was observed through an increased bioaccumulation factor from microseston to mesozooplankton. Our results indicate that Hgtransformations and uptake might be enhanced under ~(NO–P)P-limitation conditions, emphasizing their impact on the transfer of Hg to higher trophic levels.     

Mercury in aquatic fauna contamination: A systematic review on its dynamics and potential health risks

Mercury is an important pollutant, released into aquatic ecosystems both naturally and by anthropogenic action. This element is transferred to aquatic organisms in different ways, causing potential health risks. In addition, mercury can be accumulated by humans, especially through the consumption of contaminated food. This systematic review aims to present mercury pathways, the major routes through which this element reaches the aquatic environment and its transformations until becoming available to living animals, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification phenomena. The key biotic and abiotic factors affecting such processes, the impact of mercury on animal and human health and the issue of seafood consumption as a source of chronic mercury contamination are also addressed. A total of 101 articles were retrieved from a standardized search on three databases (PubMed, Emabse, and Web of Science), in addition to 28 other studies not found on these databases but considered fundamental to this review (totaling 129 articles). Both biotic and abiotic factors display fundamental importance in mediating mercurial dynamics, i.e., muscle tropism, and salinity, respectively. Consequently, mercurial contamination in aquatic environments affects animal health, especially the risk of extinction species and also on human health, with methylmercury the main mercury species responsible for acute and chronic symptomatology.