Impacts of Mercury Contamination in the Southeastern United States

Facemire, Charles F.; Augspurger, Tom; Bateman, Donald V.; Brim, Michael; Conzelmann, P.; Delchamps, S.; Douglas, E.; Inmon, L.; Looney, K.; López, Félix; Masson, G.; Morrison, D.; Morse, N.; Robison, Andrew

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-0153-0_99

Cited by 26 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mercury (Hg) represents one of the most serious environmental threats to wildlife well-being [ 1 , 2 ]. It is among the most toxic and persistent pollutants released into marine ecosystems [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Transcriptional Analyses of Acute Exposure to Methylmercury on Erythrocytes of Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Fernández

Pinzón-Velasco

López-Barrera

et al. 2021

Toxics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To understand changes in enzyme activity and gene expression as biomarkers of exposure to methylmercury, we exposed loggerhead turtle erythrocytes (RBCs) to concentrations of 0, 1, and 5 mg L−1 of MeHg and de novo transcriptome were assembled using RNA-seq. The analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that 79 unique genes were dysregulated (39 upregulated and 44 downregulated genes). The results showed that MeHg altered gene expression patterns as a response to the cellular stress produced, reflected in cell cycle regulation, lysosomal activity, autophagy, calcium regulation, mitochondrial regulation, apoptosis, and regulation of transcription and translation. The analysis of DEGs showed a low response of the antioxidant machinery to MeHg, evidenced by the fact that genes of early response to oxidative stress were not dysregulated. The RBCs maintained a constitutive expression of proteins that represented a good part of the defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by MeHg.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is among the most toxic and persistent pollutants released into marine ecosystems [ 3 ]. Furthermore, it represents a greater problem in aquatic systems, where inorganic Hg is transformed into organic Hg (methylmercury, MeHg), which is biomagnified in the trophic chain [ 1 , 2 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptional Analyses of Acute Exposure to Methylmercury on Erythrocytes of Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Fernández

Pinzón-Velasco

López-Barrera

et al. 2021

Toxics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Mercury has been identified as one of the most serious environmental threats to the well-being of wildlife in the southeastern United States ( Facemire et al 1995 ). The prevalence of Hg in aquatic species has also prompted concerns for the health of subsistence fishermen and the general population who regularly consume fish.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship of Blood Mercury Levels to Health Parameters in the Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta caretta )

Day

Segars

Arendt

et al. 2007

Environ Health Perspect

132

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundMercury is a pervasive environmental pollutant whose toxic effects have not been studied in sea turtles in spite of their threatened status and evidence of immunosuppression in diseased populations.ObjectivesIn the present study we investigate mercury toxicity in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) by examining trends between blood mercury concentrations and various health parameters.MethodsBlood was collected from free-ranging turtles, and correlations between blood mercury concentrations and plasma chemistries, complete blood counts, lysozyme, and lymphocyte proliferation were examined. Lymphocytes were also harvested from free-ranging turtles and exposed in vitro to methylmercury to assess proliferative responses.ResultsBlood mercury concentrations were positively correlated with hematocrit and creatine phosphokinase activity, and negatively correlated with lymphocyte cell counts and aspartate amino-transferase. Ex vivo negative correlations between blood mercury concentrations and B-cell proliferation were observed in 2001 and 2003 under optimal assay conditions. In vitro exposure of peripheral blood leukocytes to methylmercury resulted in suppression of proliferative responses for B cells (0.1 μg/g and 0.35 μg/g) and T cells (0.7 μg/g).ConclusionsThe positive correlation between blood mercury concentration and hematocrit reflects the higher affinity of mercury species for erythrocytes than plasma, and demonstrates the importance of measuring hematocrit when analyzing whole blood for mercury. In vitro immunosuppression occurred at methylmercury concentrations that correspond to approximately 5% of the individuals captured in the wild. This observation and the negative correlation found ex vivo between mercury and lymphocyte numbers and mercury and B-cell proliferative responses suggests that subtle negative impacts of mercury on sea turtle immune function are possible at concentrations observed in the wild.

show abstract

“…In the southeastern United States, the presence of mercury in aquatic systems has been identified as the most serious environmental threat to that region and fish consumption advisories due to mercury exist in all states comprising that geographic area (Facemire, 1995). The state of South Carolina, for example, has issued fish consumption advisories for mercury since 1976 and advisories currently exist for 57 bodies of freshwater in the state (SCDHEC, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Concentrations in Largemouth BASS (Micropterus Salmoides) from Five South Carolina Reservoirs

Peles

Glenn

Brant

et al. 2006

Water Air Soil Pollut

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mercury concentrations in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) bass were compared among five reservoirs in South Carolina. Three of these reservoirs (Lake Russell, Lake Thurmond, and Lake Marion) are accessible to the public and two (L-Lake and Par Pond) are located on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS), which is closed to public access. Age-adjusted mercury concentrations were significantly higher in SRS bass compared to the offsite reservoirs. In addition, mercury concentrations were significantly higher in bass from Par Pond compared to L-Lake and in bass from Lakes Russell and Thurmond compared to Lake Marion. No mercury concentrations in excess of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration action level (1.0 mg·kg −1 ) were found in any bass from the public-accessible reservoirs. However, the majority of fish from these reservoirs had mercury concentrations that fall into or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consumption category of "no more than one per week". In addition, most fish from these reservoirs had mercury levels in excess of those believed to be detrimental to sensitive avian species.

show abstract

Impacts of Mercury Contamination in the Southeastern United States

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

Transcriptional Analyses of Acute Exposure to Methylmercury on Erythrocytes of Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Transcriptional Analyses of Acute Exposure to Methylmercury on Erythrocytes of Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Relationship of Blood Mercury Levels to Health Parameters in the Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta caretta )

Mercury Concentrations in Largemouth BASS (Micropterus Salmoides) from Five South Carolina Reservoirs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About