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Armstrong I, Moir KE, Ridal JJ, Cumming BF. Subfossil Chironomid Assemblages as Indicators of Remedial Efficacy in the Historically Contaminated St. Lawrence River at Cornwall, Ontario. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 85:191-207. [PMID: 37603056 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-01021-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Long-term data are required to quantify the impacts of historic industrial pollution and subsequent remedial action on the nearshore benthic community in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern at Cornwall, Ontario. Specifically, high-quality temporal records are needed to understand changes in benthic invertebrate assemblages in response to multiple possible drivers including industrial pollution, environmental heterogeneity, and climate warming. We compare long-term records of subfossil chironomid assemblages and geochemical variables among sediment cores from two Cornwall sites with differing pollution histories and a minimally disturbed downstream reference site. Chironomids were functionally absent from the Cornwall sediment cores when mercury and zinc concentrations were elevated. As metal concentrations decreased in more recent sediment intervals, chironomid abundance and the relative abundance of pollution-sensitive taxa increased. Recently deposited sediment in all three sediment cores display increased relative abundance of warm-water, macrophyte-associated taxa. We conclude that these temporal changes in chironomid assemblages provide evidence for ecological recovery for both of the impacted sites, consistent with the objectives of the current management strategy. These findings advance our understanding of industrial impacts on fluvial chironomid ecology, directly inform local management strategies, and further develop the application of chironomids as bioindicators for contaminated sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Armstrong
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON, K7L 3J9, Canada.
| | - Katherine E Moir
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON, K7L 3J9, Canada
| | - Jeffrey J Ridal
- St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2 St. Lawrence Drive, Cornwall, ON, K6H 4Z1, Canada
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON, K7L 3J9, Canada
| | - Brian F Cumming
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON, K7L 3J9, Canada
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON, K7L 3J9, Canada
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Zhang Y, Song Z, Sugita K, Xue S, Zhang W. Impacts of Nanobubbles in Pore Water on Heavy Metal Pollutant Release from Contaminated Soil Columns. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13101671. [PMID: 37242089 DOI: 10.3390/nano13101671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the release of heavy metals from polluted soil under the pore water flow containing nanobubbles (NBs) to simulate natural ebullition. Three types of NBs (CH4, H2, and CO2) were generated in water and characterized, including bubble size, zeta potential, liquid density, and tension. The flow rate used in column tests was optimized to achieve proper soil fluidization and metal desorption or release. The leachate chemistries were monitored to assess the effect of NBs on conductivity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and dissolved oxygen (DO). The results showed that NBs in the pore water flow were significantly more effective in releasing Pb compared to DI water, with CO2 NB water being the most effective and H2 NB water being the least effective. CO2 NB water was also used to rinse column soil contaminated with four different metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cr), which exhibited different leaching kinetics. Moreover, a convective-dispersion-deposition equation (CDDE) model accurately simulated the leaching kinetics and explained the effects of NBs on the key parameters, such as the deposition rate coefficient (Kd), that affect the released metal transport. The findings could provide new insights into soil pollutant release under ebullition and soil remediation using water wash containing NBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Zimu Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Kosuke Sugita
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Shan Xue
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
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Valsecchi L, Roscioli C, Schiavon A, Marziali L. Methylmercury determination in freshwater biota and sediments: Static headspace GC-MS compared to direct mercury analyzer. MethodsX 2022; 8:101581. [PMID: 35004215 PMCID: PMC8720905 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2021.101581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed and compared two analytical methods for determination of MeHg in freshwater biota and sediments, by: I) simplified static headspace GC-MS using internal standard (IS) isotope dilution quantification, after microwave acid digestion and aqueous phase NaBEt4 ethylation; II) Automated Mercury Analyzer, after double toluene extraction followed by back-extraction with L-cystein. The performance was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials. For biota, mean recovery was 100 ± 2% and relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 6.8% for method I, and mean recovery was 98 ± 7% and RSD ≤13% for method II. For sediments, recovery of 94.5% and RSD of 8.8% were obtained with method I, and recovery of 90.3% and RSD of 9.4% with method II. Limits of detection (LOD) were 0.7 µg kg−1 and 6 µg kg−1, respectively. Both techniques were tested for MeHg analysis in freshwater invertebrates, fish and sediments, covering a large range of MeHg values (1.9–670 µg kg−1 d.w.). • Both protocols proved to be suitable for MeHg analysis in complex environmental matrices, even if, for method II, interferences in the extraction phase and limited sensitivity may hinder sediment analysis. • Passing-Bablock regression revealed a slight disproportion between methods, with line slope = 1.058 (95% CI ranging from 1.001 to 1.090).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Valsecchi
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council, Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, Brugherio (MB) I-20861, Italy
| | - Claudio Roscioli
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council, Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, Brugherio (MB) I-20861, Italy
| | - Alfredo Schiavon
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council, Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, Brugherio (MB) I-20861, Italy.,Department of Ecohydrology, IGB Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin 12587, Germany
| | - Laura Marziali
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council, Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, Brugherio (MB) I-20861, Italy
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Mercury Bioaccumulation in Benthic Invertebrates: From Riverine Sediments to Higher Trophic Levels. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9090197. [PMID: 34564348 PMCID: PMC8473003 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9090197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Riverine sediments are important sites of mercury methylation and benthic invertebrates may be indicators of Hg exposure to higher organisms. From 2014 to 2018, sediments and invertebrates were collected along a mercury gradient in the Toce River (Northern Italy) and analyzed for THg and MeHg. Concentrations in invertebrates, separated according to taxon and to Functional Feeding Group, ranged from 20 to 253 µg kg−1 dry weight (d.w.) for THg, increasing from grazers (Leuctra, Baetis, Serratella) to predators (Perla). MeHg ranged from 3 to 88 µg kg−1 d.w. in biota, representing 6–53% of THg, while in sediments it was mostly below LOD (0.7 µg kg−1), accounting for ≤3.8% of THg. The Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF, ranging 0.2–4.6) showed an inverse relation to exposure concentrations (THg in sediments, ranging 0.014–0.403 µg kg−1 d.w.) and to organic carbon. THg in invertebrates (up to 73 µg kg−1 wet weight), i.e., at the basal levels of the aquatic trophic chain, exceeded the European Environmental Quality Standard for biota (20 µg kg−1 w.w.), posing potential risks for top predators. Concentrations in adult insects were close to those in aquatic stages, proving active mercury transfer even to terrestrial food chains.
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Moir KE, Windle MJS, Cumming BF, Ridal JJ. Nearshore Sedimentary Mercury Concentrations Reflect Legacy Point Sources and Variable Sedimentation Patterns Under a Natural Recovery Strategy. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:1788-1799. [PMID: 33559913 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The St. Lawrence River at Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, received substantial inputs of mercury from local, shoreline-based industries through much of the 20th century. Although emission controls were implemented in the late 20th century to reduce the influx of mercury and other metals entering the river, legacy contamination of riverine sediments continues to be a concern. Monitored natural recovery was prescribed in 2005 to remediate contaminated sediments; however, few surveys have been undertaken to examine its effectiveness on shallow, nearshore sediments in contaminated areas. Surface sediments were collected at shallow, nearshore sites in contaminated zones and upstream reference areas to evaluate the current state of sedimentary contamination of mercury and other metals. A Getis-Ord Gi* "hot spot" analysis was employed to assess the spatial distribution of contaminants. In addition, 3 sediment cores were collected from contaminated zones and dated using radioisotopes (210 Pb) to assess sedimentation patterns over time. Results indicated that surface sediments from contaminated zones remained elevated in mercury relative to reference sites but spatial distribution of contaminants was highly heterogeneous. Dated sediment cores suggested that sedimentation was not occurring consistently across all areas; variable sedimentation and resuspension patterns over small spatial scales were likely factors driving heterogeneous sedimentary contamination. Such patterns complicate remediation strategies because unburied sediments may serve as continuing sources of contaminants to the ecosystem. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1788-1799. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Moir
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew J S Windle
- St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian F Cumming
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey J Ridal
- St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
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Olsen M, Fjeld E, Lydersen E. The influence of a submerged meadow on uptake and trophic transfer of legacy mercury from contaminated sediment in the food web in a brackish Norwegian fjord. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 654:209-217. [PMID: 30445322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
There are contradicting results on the importance of legacy mercury (Hg) contaminated sediments to Hg fish tissue concentrations. Still, sediment remediation actions often aim at minimizing ecosystem exposure and human risk caused by the consumption of fish and seafood. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of a permanently submerged meadow on the availability and transfer of Hg from sediment to biota, three decades after the Hg discharges was halted and the previous biota survey was carried out, in the severely contaminated brackish fjord Gunneklevfjorden in southern Norway. We examined total Hg (Tot-Hg) and methyl-Hg (MeHg) concentrations and stable isotopes of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) in zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish to map the food web and to investigate the trophic transfer of Hg. Sediment and water data were available from a previous study. Overlap in δ13C in benthos and fish reveals that benthos is a preferred prey to fish, though despite elevated Tot-Hg concentrations in benthos, fish predator (perch, pike and eel) Hg concentrations are comparable to concentrations reported in nearby lakes without contaminated sediments (mean 1.6 ± 1.3 mg Tot-Hg kg-1 dw). We propose that habitat reliance is an important factor controlling the uptake of Hg from sediments, as both benthos and fish prefer to forage within the meadow where sediment concentrations of Tot-Hg are lower than outside the macrophyte meadow, though %MeHg is higher than outside. Further, we propose that sediment remediation actions performed outside the meadow may have limited effect on the Hg concentrations in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Olsen
- University College of Southeast Norway, Gullbringvegen 36, N-3800 Bø, Norway; The Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Eirik Fjeld
- Fjeld og Vann AS, Terrasseveien 31A, 1363 Høvik, Norway
| | - Espen Lydersen
- University College of Southeast Norway, Gullbringvegen 36, N-3800 Bø, Norway
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Lapointe D, Ridal JJ. Mercury Concentrations in Sentinel Fish Exposed to Contaminated Sediments Under a Natural Recovery Strategy Within the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern at Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 76:216-230. [PMID: 30536038 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-018-0583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Legacy mercury (Hg) sediment deposits are a long-term issue within the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) area of concern with three depositional areas along the Cornwall, ON waterfront containing sediments that exceed the Ontario Sediment Quality Guidelines for Hg. Assessing the bioavailability of these Hg-contaminated sediments plays a crucial role in evaluating the effectiveness of the Cornwall Sediment Strategy based on a natural recovery approach. We collected specimens of fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) to assess spatial and temporal trends of Hg concentrations in various areas along the Cornwall waterfront, including zones of contaminated sediments and non-contaminated reference sites. This study revealed that (1) Hg concentrations in fish collected from the contaminated zones remain greater than those of fish from non-impacted locations, indicating that natural recovery is not yet achieved, (2) total Hg concentrations in yellow perch collected in 2016 were greater than those obtained during a previous assessment, indicating a reversal of the previously observed long-term declines, and (3) total Hg concentrations in yellow perch collected at the outlet of Gray's Creek compared with yellow perch from contaminated zones, suggesting other important inputs of Hg to the ecosystem than the legacy contaminated sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Lapointe
- St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2 St. Lawrence Drive, Cornwall, ON, K6H 4Z1, Canada.
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, 880 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC, G1S 4X4, Canada.
| | - Jeffrey J Ridal
- St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2 St. Lawrence Drive, Cornwall, ON, K6H 4Z1, Canada
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Dang F, Zhao J, Greenfield BK, Zhong H, Wang Y, Yang Z, Zhou D. Soil geochemistry and digestive solubilization control mercury bioaccumulation in the earthworm Pheretima guillemi. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2015; 292:44-51. [PMID: 25781374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mercury presents a potential risk to soil organisms, yet our understanding of mercury bioaccumulation in soil dwelling organisms is limited. The influence of soil geochemistry and digestive processes on both methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg) bioavailability to earthworms (Pheretima guillemi) was evaluated in this study. Earthworms were exposed to six mercury-contaminated soils with geochemically contrasting properties for 36 days, and digestive fluid was concurrently collected to solubilize soil-associated mercury. Bioaccumulation factors were 7.5-31.0 and 0.2-0.6 for MeHg and THg, respectively, and MeHg accounted for 17-58% of THg in earthworm. THg and MeHg measured in soils and earthworms were negatively associated with soil total organic carbon (TOC). Earthworm THg and MeHg also increased with increasing soil pH. The proportion of MeHg and THg released into the digestive fluid (digestive solubilizable mercury, DSM) was 8.3-18.1% and 0.4-1.3%, respectively. The greater solubilization of MeHg by digestive fluid than CaCl2, together with a biokinetic model-based estimate of dietary MeHg uptake, indicated the importance of soil ingestion for MeHg bioaccumulation in earthworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Dang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China
| | - Ben K Greenfield
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhousheng Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China
| | - Dongmei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
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Hodson PV, Norris K, Berquist M, Campbell LM, Ridal JJ. Mercury concentrations in amphipods and fish of the Saint Lawrence River (Canada) are unrelated to concentrations of legacy mercury in sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 494-495:218-228. [PMID: 25051324 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.06.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Revised: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Past industrial activity at Cornwall, Ontario, Canada has contaminated Lake Saint Francis, a fluvial lake on the Saint Lawrence River, with mercury (Hg). A spatial survey of Hg concentrations in sediments, amphipods, and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in 2008 inferred current sources of Hg to the lake and spatial variations in risks to human consumers. Patterns of total and methyl Hg concentrations in sediment reflected upstream inputs, declining concentrations downstream, and highest concentrations at north shore sites near industrial sources; concentrations were lowest on the south shore because river currents limit north-south advective exchange. Surprisingly, concentrations of total or methyl Hg in sediments and pore water were unrelated to concentrations in amphipods and yellow perch. Concentrations in biota, and risks to consumers of fish, were highest at north shore sites near tributaries, and not at the most contaminated industrial sites. These results suggest that 'legacy' Hg in surficial sediments is not bioavailable to aquatic biota; tributaries and atmospheric deposition are possible sources of bioavailable Hg; and that sediment remediation would not resolve issues of Hg in fish. Fish consumption advisories for the entire lake based on single samples of fish could over- or under-protect consumers, depending on sampling location. To understand the actual risk to fish consumers for a large and complex lake system with multiple sources of Hg, more intensive sampling is needed to assess the spatial distribution of risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter V Hodson
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Kristin Norris
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle Berquist
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Linda M Campbell
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey J Ridal
- Saint Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
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Kovac Virsek M, Hubad B, Lapanje A. Mercury induced community tolerance in microbial biofilms is related to pollution gradients in a long-term polluted river. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2013; 144-145:208-17. [PMID: 24184840 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The net toxicity of different forms of mercury, in the long-term during their transformation processes, leads to the selection of resistant bacterial cells and this result in community tolerance which is pollution induced. Accordingly, based on profiles of a bacterial community structure, analysis of Hg resistant culturable bacteria and quantification of merA genes, we assessed development of pollution induced community tolerance in a mercury-polluted gradient in the Idrijca River. TTGE analysis did not show effects of mercury pollution to bacterial community diversity, while quantification of merA genes showed that merA genes can be correlated precisely (R(2)=0.83) with the total concentration of mercury in the biofilm microbial communities in the pollution gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manca Kovac Virsek
- Institute of Microbial Sciences and Technologies Ltd., Askerceva 59, 1230 Domzale, Slovenia
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