Methylmercury and total mercury in tissues of arctic marine mammals

Wagemann, R.; Trebacz, Ewa; Boila, Gail; Lockhart, W.L.

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(98)00192-2

Cited by 237 publications

(181 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Significantly different results were obtained for the other tested tissues, in which contents of MeHg between 16.7-48.6% were found. The similar results were also found for the other animal species -mammalia and birds (Kim et al, 1996;Wagemann et al, 1998;Boening, 2000;Anonymous, 2002;Henny et al, 2002;Heinz and Hoffmann, 2004;Houserova et al, 2006b).…”

Section: Contents Of Mercury Species In Fish Zoobenthos and Sedimentssupporting

confidence: 72%

Determination of total mercury and mercury species in fish and aquatic ecosystems of Moravian rivers

Houserová¹,

Kubáň²,

Spurný³

et al. 2006

Vet. Med.

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Contents of total mercury and mercury species (methylmercury – MeHg, inorganic mercury – Hg<sup>2+</sup>) were determined in four Moravian rivers – Jihlava, Becva, Loucka and Dyje (Czech Republic). Five tissues (muscle, gills, liver, kidney and skin) of chub (Leuciscus cephalus), zoobenthos, sediments and water samples were analyzed. Time stability of samples was also tested. The highest levels of total mercury were determined in muscle tissues of all tested fish. Relative contents of MeHg in muscle tissues of fish ranged from 83.6% to 92.0% of the total mercury contents. The relative contents of MeHg in sediments and in zoobenthos samples correlate very closely (correlation coefficient –0.83). A considerably lower content of MeHg (1.3–11.4%) was found in river sediments compared with lakes. A comparison of observed sampling sites (Vladislav, Hrubsice) proved the adverse effect of industrial contamination on the water ecosystem ofJihlavaRiver and incomplete removal of mercury species in a sewage station

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Section: Contents Of Mercury Species In Fish Zoobenthos and Sedimentssupporting

confidence: 72%

Determination of total mercury and mercury species in fish and aquatic ecosystems of Moravian rivers

Houserová¹,

Kubáň²,

Spurný³

et al. 2006

Vet. Med.

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“…Moreover, many studies have reported Hg and Se to be correlated in a molar ratio of 1:1, as in HgSe (e.g. Koeman et al 1973, Nielsen & Dietz 1990, Wagemann et al 1998. The molar ratio of Hg:Se in the liver of grey seals from the Faroe Islands was ~1 (Fig.…”

Section: Toxicological Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Trace element bioaccumulation in grey seals Halichoerus grypus from the Faroe Islands

Bustamante¹,

Morales²,

Mikkelsen³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Grey seals Halichoerus grypus were sampled in the Faroe Islands archipelago during the summers of 1993 to 1995. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Hg, Se and Zn were measured in the liver, kidney and muscle of 68 seals. All elements except Zn exhibited lowest concentrations in the muscle. The liver contained the highest concentrations of Cu, Hg, Se and Zn, while the kidney contained the highest Cd concentrations. However, trace element concentrations within the tissues were influenced by sex and age. Thus, females had clearly higher Cd concentrations than males. Age was the most important factor influencing the concentration of Cd, Hg and Se in the liver, and of Cd and Hg in the kidney. A strong positive correlation between Cd, Hg and Zn in the kidney suggests the presence of a detoxification process involving metallothionein proteins. Similarly, a strong positive correlation between Hg and Se and a molecular Hg:Se ratio close to 1 in the liver suggests a demethylation process leading to the formation of mercuric selenide granules. High Hg concentrations could be related to fish consumption by the grey seal, but a piscivorous diet could not be responsible for the very high Cd concentrations. This suggests that the seals' diet changes during the year, and may include a significant proportion of cephalopods in seasons other than summer. Finally very high Cd concentrations in grey seal tissues compared to other grey seal populations also suggest that the Faroe Islands are subject to sub-arctic influences.

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“…[232] To use beluga as an example, Hg concentrations in liver tissue typically correlate strongly with age due to the continuous internal demethylation of MeHg to inorganic Hg and the accumulation of mercuric selenide, a biologically unavailable complex. [233,234] Therefore, the linear increase in the liver total Hg concentration (i.e. the non-methylated form) with age suggests that the bioaccumulated Hg will complicate attempts to interpret recent dietary Hg sources.…”

Section: Eastern Beaufort Sea Belugamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[146] Overall, muscle tissue is a better indicator of dietary Hg sources and the processes of Hg biomagnification driven by food web structure whereas liver Hg best reflects age-related accumulation. Mercury concentrations in other tissues, such as muktuk (skin) in beluga, are closely correlated with muscle Hg, [234] and this is also thought to apply to fur or hair in mammals. [235] This finding supports the use of skin biopsy or fur samples to estimate dietary Hg loads and body burdens in high order mammals.…”

Section: Eastern Beaufort Sea Belugamentioning

confidence: 99%

The fate of mercury in Arctic terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, a review

Douglas

Loseto²,

Macdonald³

et al. 2012

Environ. Chem.

124

147

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Environmental context. Mercury, in its methylated form, is a neurotoxin that biomagnifies in marine and terrestrial foodwebs leading to elevated levels in fish and fish-eating mammals worldwide, including at numerous Arctic locations. Elevated mercury concentrations in Arctic country foods present a significant exposure risk to Arctic people. We present a detailed review of the fate of mercury in Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems, taking into account the extreme seasonality of Arctic ecosystems and the unique processes associated with sea ice and Arctic hydrology.Abstract. This review is the result of a series of multidisciplinary meetings organised by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme as part of their 2011 Assessment 'Mercury in the Arctic'. This paper presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on the environmental fate of mercury following its entry into the Arctic by oceanic, atmospheric and terrestrial pathways. Our focus is on the movement, transformation and bioaccumulation of Hg in aquatic (marine and fresh water) and terrestrial ecosystems. The processes most relevant to biological Hg uptake and the potential risk associated with Hg exposure in wildlife are emphasised. We present discussions of the chemical transformations of newly deposited or transported Hg in marine, fresh water and terrestrial environments and of the movement of Hg from air, soil and water environmental compartments into food webs. Methylation, a key process controlling the fate of Hg in most ecosystems, and the role of trophic processes in controlling Hg in higher order animals are also included. Case studies on Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are presented as examples of the relationship between ecosystem trophic processes and biologic Hg levels. We examine whether atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) contribute to increased Hg levels in Arctic biota and provide information on the links between organic carbon and Hg speciation, dynamics and bioavailability. Long-term sequestration of Hg into non-biological archives is also addressed. The review concludes by identifying major knowledge gaps in our understanding, including:(1) the rates of Hg entry into marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the rates of inorganic and MeHg uptake by Arctic microbial and algal communities; (2) the bioavailable fraction of AMDE-related Hg and its rate of accumulation by biota and (3) the fresh water and marine MeHg cycle in the Arctic, especially the marine MeHg cycle.

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Methylmercury and total mercury in tissues of arctic marine mammals

Cited by 237 publications

References 32 publications

Determination of total mercury and mercury species in fish and aquatic ecosystems of Moravian rivers

Determination of total mercury and mercury species in fish and aquatic ecosystems of Moravian rivers

Trace element bioaccumulation in grey seals Halichoerus grypus from the Faroe Islands

The fate of mercury in Arctic terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, a review

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