A Factor Influence Study of Trace Element Bioaccumulation in Moss Bags

Abstract

Moss bags of Rhynchostegium riparioides were exposed to different water concentrations of 11 trace elements under laboratory conditions, according to a saturated fractional factorial design (67 treated combinations), with the aim of measuring (1) element uptake and (2) the main effects and first-order interactions of influent factors. Bioaccumulation was directly proportional to water concentration, but the uptake ratio (ranging from 10(2) to 10(5)) also depended on the concentration of other metals. The highest uptake ratios were observed for Al, Cu, Cr, Hg, and Pb. The multiple regression model showed that interactions among elements exist and induce both antagonism (Fe is the most frequent competitor) and synergism (Cr exerts a great influence on Pb and Zn uptake). Interactions might be relatively strong (as for As, Cr, and Pb) or weak (Cd and Hg). This evidence should be taken into consideration in biomonitoring surveys of industrial sites, where effluents release more than one contaminant.

Marcellus and mercury: Assessing potential impacts of unconventional natural gas extraction on aquatic ecosystems in northwestern Pennsylvania

“…The samples were placed in pre-cleaned amber glass bottles and then stored on ice in darkened coolers. [60][61][62] Composite bed sediment samples were collected from five different areas within a 100m reach at each stream. The top 2 cm of deposited fines in streambeds were 484 Grant et al…”

“…Also brook trout organs, including, kidney, liver and spleen were removed and homogenized, with subsamples being analyzed for THg. Stream bed sediment and aquatic mosses were oven dried at 45 C for 24-48 h [61][62]71] and then homogenized using Teflon stir rods. All samples were analyzed for Hg content by combustion atomic absorption spectrophotometry (CAAS) (Milestone DMA 80 direct mercury analyzer, Milestone, Monroe, CT) according to US EPA method 7473, [72] which is known to produce statistically equivalent results to cold vapor atomic absorption.…”

“…Aquatic mosses were believed to be a good potential indicator of Hg accumulation because of their relatively high THg concentrations (Fig. 4), their predisposition to cell surface adsorption of inorganic heavy metals such as mercury, [62,144,145] and their proven use as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of Hg. [144,146,147] Knowing this, we expected to see differences that aligned with our Hg results for brook trout, crayfish, and macroinvertebrates.…”

“…[71,148] Many researchers have shown the role of stream sediments as a sink and a source for Hg. [62,[149][150][151][152] No significant differences in THg in stream bed sediment were observed between fracked and non-fracked sites (Table 2), and no significant correlations existed with any other environmental variables. Others have suggested that stream bed sediments are an excellent long-term indicator of watershed conditions; [65] however, our previous Hg results suggest that more recent changes in stream water THg have occurred and may not yet be well reflected in stream bed sediments Hg.…”

Development of a standard protocol for monitoring trace elements in continental waters with moss bags: inter- and intraspecific differences

“…However, it is known that some environmental factors negatively influence trace element uptake in transplants, i.e. increasing water acidity (Fernandez et al 2006), water hardness (Ferreira et al 2009;Gagnon et al 1998;Wehr et al 1987) and antagonistic interactions among cations on binding sites (Cesa et al 2008).…”