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Lacombe RM, Martigny P, Pelletier D, Barst BD, Guillemette M, Amyot M, Elliott KH, Lavoie RA. Exploring the spatial variation of mercury in the Gulf of St. Lawrence using northern gannets as fish samplers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172152. [PMID: 38575012 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172152] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and pervasive environmental contaminant with detrimental effects on wildlife, which originates from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Its distribution within ecosystems is influenced by various biogeochemical processes, making it crucial to elucidate the factors driving this variability. To explore these factors, we employed an innovative method to use northern gannets (Morus bassanus) as biological samplers of regurgitated fish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We assessed fish total Hg (THg) concentrations in relation to their geographical catch location as well as to pertinent biotic and anthropogenic factors. In small fish species, trophic position, calculated from compound-specific stable nitrogen isotopes in amino acids, emerged as the most influential predictor of THg concentrations. For large fish species, THg concentrations were best explained by δ13C, indicating higher concentrations in inshore habitats. No anthropogenic factors, such as pollution, shipping traffic, or coastal development, were significantly related to THg concentrations in fish. Moreover, previously published THg data in mussels sampled nearby were positively linked with THg concentrations in gannet prey, suggesting consistent mercury distribution across trophic levels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Our findings point to habitat-dependent variability in THg concentrations across multiple trophic levels. Our study could have many potential uses in the future, including the identification of vulnerability hotspots for fish populations and their predators, or assessing risk factors for seabirds themselves by using biologically relevant prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Lacombe
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Rd, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - P Martigny
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada.
| | - D Pelletier
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada; Département de Biologie, Cégep de Rimouski, 60 rue de l'Évêché O, Rimouski, Québec G5L 4H6, Canada.
| | - B D Barst
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA.
| | - M Guillemette
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada.
| | - M Amyot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada.
| | - K H Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Rd, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - R A Lavoie
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec G1J 0C3, Canada.
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Albert C, Moe B, Strøm H, Grémillet D, Brault-Favrou M, Tarroux A, Descamps S, Bråthen VS, Merkel B, Åström J, Amélineau F, Angelier F, Anker-Nilssen T, Chastel O, Christensen-Dalsgaard S, Danielsen J, Elliott K, Erikstad KE, Ezhov A, Fauchald P, Gabrielsen GW, Gavrilo M, Hanssen SA, Helgason HH, Johansen MK, Kolbeinsson Y, Krasnov Y, Langset M, Lemaire J, Lorentsen SH, Olsen B, Patterson A, Plumejeaud-Perreau C, Reiertsen TK, Systad GH, Thompson PM, Lindberg Thórarinsson T, Bustamante P, Fort J. Seabirds reveal mercury distribution across the North Atlantic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315513121. [PMID: 38739784 PMCID: PMC11126949 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315513121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a heterogeneously distributed toxicant affecting wildlife and human health. Yet, the spatial distribution of Hg remains poorly documented, especially in food webs, even though this knowledge is essential to assess large-scale risk of toxicity for the biota and human populations. Here, we used seabirds to assess, at an unprecedented population and geographic magnitude and high resolution, the spatial distribution of Hg in North Atlantic marine food webs. To this end, we combined tracking data of 837 seabirds from seven different species and 27 breeding colonies located across the North Atlantic and Atlantic Arctic together with Hg analyses in feathers representing individual seabird contamination based on their winter distribution. Our results highlight an east-west gradient in Hg concentrations with hot spots around southern Greenland and the east coast of Canada and a cold spot in the Barents and Kara Seas. We hypothesize that those gradients are influenced by eastern (Norwegian Atlantic Current and West Spitsbergen Current) and western (East Greenland Current) oceanic currents and melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. By tracking spatial Hg contamination in marine ecosystems and through the identification of areas at risk of Hg toxicity, this study provides essential knowledge for international decisions about where the regulation of pollutants should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Albert
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle17000, France
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim7034, Norway
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø9296, Norway
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR5175, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier34293, France
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch7701, South Africa
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle17000, France
| | - Arnaud Tarroux
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø9296, Norway
| | | | | | - Benjamin Merkel
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø9296, Norway
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre, TromsøNO-9007, Norway
| | - Jens Åström
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim7034, Norway
| | - Françoise Amélineau
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR5175, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier34293, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois79360, France
| | | | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois79360, France
| | | | - Johannis Danielsen
- Seabird Ecology Department, Faroe Marine Research Institute, TórshavnFO-100, Faroe Islands
| | - Kyle Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QCH9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Alexey Ezhov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Murmansk183010, Russia
| | - Per Fauchald
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø9296, Norway
| | | | - Maria Gavrilo
- Association Maritime Heritage, Icebreaker “Krassin”, Saint-PetersburgRU–199106, Russia
- National Park Russian Arctic, ArchangelskRU-168000, Russia
| | - Sveinn Are Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø9296, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Yuri Krasnov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Murmansk183010, Russia
| | | | - Jérémy Lemaire
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle17000, France
| | | | - Bergur Olsen
- Seabird Ecology Department, Faroe Marine Research Institute, TórshavnFO-100, Faroe Islands
| | - Allison Patterson
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QCH9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Tone K. Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø9296, Norway
| | | | - Paul M. Thompson
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Lighthouse Field Station, Ross-shire, CromartyIV11 8YJ, Scotland
| | | | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle17000, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris75005, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle17000, France
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de Lacerda LD, de Alencar Goyanna FA, da Silva GB, de Rezende CE, Bastos WR, Bezerra MF. First record of mercury concentrations and stable isotopes ( 13C & 15N) in albacore (Thunnus alalunga) from the Western Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116469. [PMID: 38754322 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
This paper reports the first record of total mercury (THg) concentrations in albacore (Thunnus alalunga), one of the main tuna species caught from the Western Equatorial Atlantic Ocean and presents a preliminary comparison with other regions and tuna species. Mean, standard deviation and range of concentrations in T. alalunga (515 ± 145 ng g-1 ww; 294-930 ng g-1 ww) with 92 % being of methyl-Hg, are higher than in albacore from other Atlantic Ocean subregions despite their smaller body size. These concentrations are similar to those from the Pacific and Indian oceans, but lower than in the Mediterranean. Compared to other sympatric tuna species, concentrations are higher than those in T. albacares and similar to T. obesus. These results are discussed considering the potential differences in stable isotope values (13C and 15N) of T. alalunga populations from multiple oceanic areas and compared to other tuna species worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Drude de Lacerda
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Meireles, Fortaleza 60.165-081, CE, Brazil.
| | - Felipe A de Alencar Goyanna
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Meireles, Fortaleza 60.165-081, CE, Brazil
| | - Guelson Batista da Silva
- Departamento Ciências Animais, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, Mossoró 59.625-900, RN, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos
- Regional Development and Environment Graduate Program, Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory Wolfgang C. Pfeiffer, Rondônia Federal University, Av. Pres. Dutra, 2967, Olaria, 76801-059 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Moisés Fernandes Bezerra
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Meireles, Fortaleza 60.165-081, CE, Brazil
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4
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Evers DC, Ackerman JT, Åkerblom S, Bally D, Basu N, Bishop K, Bodin N, Braaten HFV, Burton MEH, Bustamante P, Chen C, Chételat J, Christian L, Dietz R, Drevnick P, Eagles-Smith C, Fernandez LE, Hammerschlag N, Harmelin-Vivien M, Harte A, Krümmel EM, Brito JL, Medina G, Barrios Rodriguez CA, Stenhouse I, Sunderland E, Takeuchi A, Tear T, Vega C, Wilson S, Wu P. Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s10646-024-02747-x. [PMID: 38683471 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02747-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
An important provision of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the adopted measures and its implementation. Here, we describe for the first time currently available biotic mercury (Hg) data on a global scale to improve the understanding of global efforts to reduce the impact of Hg pollution on people and the environment. Data from the peer-reviewed literature were compiled in the Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database (>550,000 data points). These data provide a foundation for establishing a biomonitoring framework needed to track Hg concentrations in biota globally. We describe Hg exposure in the taxa identified by the Minamata Convention: fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Based on the GBMS database, Hg concentrations are presented at relevant geographic scales for continents and oceanic basins. We identify some effective regional templates for monitoring methylmercury (MeHg) availability in the environment, but overall illustrate that there is a general lack of regional biomonitoring initiatives around the world, especially in Africa, Australia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Temporal trend data for Hg in biota are generally limited. Ecologically sensitive sites (where biota have above average MeHg tissue concentrations) have been identified throughout the world. Efforts to model and quantify ecosystem sensitivity locally, regionally, and globally could help establish effective and efficient biomonitoring programs. We present a framework for a global Hg biomonitoring network that includes a three-step continental and oceanic approach to integrate existing biomonitoring efforts and prioritize filling regional data gaps linked with key Hg sources. We describe a standardized approach that builds on an evidence-based evaluation to assess the Minamata Convention's progress to reduce the impact of global Hg pollution on people and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA.
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | | | - Dominique Bally
- African Center for Environmental Health, BP 826 Cidex 03, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Nil Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Upsalla, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Bodin
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development Seychelles Fishing Authority, Victoria, Seychelles
| | | | - Mark E H Burton
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Celia Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Cliamte Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Linroy Christian
- Department of Analytical Services, Dunbars, Friars Hill, St John, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Paul Drevnick
- Teck American Incorporated, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Collin Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 29106, USA
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazonica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Shark Research Foundation Inc, 29 Wideview Lane, Boutiliers Point, NS, B3Z 0M9, Canada
| | - Mireille Harmelin-Vivien
- Aix-Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO), UM 110, Campus de Luminy, case 901, 13288, Marseille, cedex 09, France
| | - Agustin Harte
- Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Chem. des Anémones 15, 1219, Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eva M Krümmel
- Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada, Ottawa, Canada and ScienTissiME Inc, Barry's Bay, ON, Canada
| | - José Lailson Brito
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 4002, CEP 20550-013, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Medina
- Director of Basel Convention Coordinating Centre, Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, Hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Iain Stenhouse
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Elsie Sunderland
- Harvard University, Pierce Hall 127, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Akinori Takeuchi
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Health and Environmental Risk Division, 16-2 Onogawa Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Tim Tear
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Claudia Vega
- Centro de Innovaccion Cientifica Amazonica (CINCIA), Jiron Ucayali 750, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17001, Peru
| | - Simon Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pianpian Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
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Wang X, Qiao Y, Zhang J, Song Y, Han Q. A SYBR Green I-based aptasensor for the label-free, fluorometric, and anti-interference detection of MeHg . Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:299-311. [PMID: 37932512 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-05018-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg+) is a common form of organic mercury that is substantially more toxic than inorganic mercury and is more likely to accumulate in organisms through biological enrichment. Therefore, developing a method to enable the specific and rapid detection of MeHg+ in seafood is important and remains challenging to accomplish. Herein, a rapid, label-free fluorescence detection method for MeHg+ determination was developed based on SYBR Green I. The detection system implemented "add and measure" detection mode can be completed in 10 min. Under optimal assay conditions, the detection platform showed a linear relationship with the concentration of MeHg+ within 1-50 nM (Y = 8.573x + 42.89, R2 = 0.9928), with a detection limit of 0.3218 nM. The results obtained for competitive substances, such as inorganic mercury ions and anions, show a high specificity of the method. In addition, this method successfully detected MeHg+ in seawater and marine products, with an accompanying spike recovery rate of 96.45-105.1%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnosis, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Yinuo Qiao
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnosis, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Jinyang Zhang
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnosis, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuzhu Song
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnosis, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Qinqin Han
- Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnosis, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China.
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Dack K, Bustamante M, Taylor CM, Llop S, Lozano M, Yousefi P, Gražulevičienė R, Gutzkow KB, Brantsæter AL, Mason D, Escaramís G, Lewis SJ. Genome-Wide Association Study of Blood Mercury in European Pregnant Women and Children. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2123. [PMID: 38136945 PMCID: PMC10742428 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury has high industrial utility and is present in many products, and environmental contamination and occupational exposure are widespread. There are numerous biological systems involved in the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of Hg, and it is possible that some systems may be impacted by genetic variation. If so, genotype may affect tissue concentrations of Hg and subsequent toxic effects. Genome-wide association testing was performed on blood Hg samples from pregnant women of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 2893) and children of the Human Early Life Exposome (n = 1042). Directly-genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were imputed to the Haplotype Reference Consortium r1.1 panel of whole genotypes and modelled againstlog-transformed Hg. Heritability was estimated using linkage disequilibrium score regression. The heritability of Hg was estimated as 24.0% (95% CI: 16.9% to 46.4%) in pregnant women, but could not be determined in children. There were 16 SNPs associated with Hg in pregnant women above a suggestive p-value threshold (p < 1 × 10-5), and 21 for children. However, no SNP passed this threshold in both studies, and none were genome-wide significant (p < 5 × 10-8). SNP-Hg associations were highly discordant between women and children, and this may reflect differences in metabolism, a gene-age interaction, or dose-response effects. Several suggestive variants had plausible links to Hg metabolism, such as rs146099921 in metal transporter SLC39A14, and two variants (rs28618224, rs7154700) in potassium voltage-gated channel genes. The findings would benefit from external validation, as suggestive results may contain both true associations and false positives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dack
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK; (K.D.)
| | - Mariona Bustamante
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain (G.E.)
| | - Caroline M. Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK;
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain (G.E.)
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO- Universitat Jaume I - Universitat de València, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Lozano
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO- Universitat Jaume I - Universitat de València, 46020 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Preventative Medicine, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Universitat de València, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Paul Yousefi
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK; (K.D.)
| | - Regina Gražulevičienė
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Kristine Bjerve Gutzkow
- Department of Air Quality and Noise, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skoyen, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Anne Lise Brantsæter
- Department of Food Safety, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skoyen, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Dan Mason
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - Georgia Escaramís
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain (G.E.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah J. Lewis
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK; (K.D.)
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
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7
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Le Croizier G, Lorrain A, Hoyos-Padilla M, Ketchum JT, Amezcua-Martínez F, Le Loc'h F, Munaron JM, Schaal G, Point D. Do marine protected areas influence mercury exposure? Insights from a shark community in the tropical Northeast Pacific. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122352. [PMID: 37562525 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Biomass depletion caused by overfishing is likely to alter the structure of food webs and impact mercury transfer to marine predators. Although marine protected areas (MPAs) are spared from fishing pressure, their influence on biota mercury levels is poorly understood. Here, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions as well as mercury concentrations in fin clips to characterize foraging habitat and mercury exposure of a shark community composed of migratory and resident species of the Revillagigedo archipelago, an offshore MPA in the Northeast Pacific off Mexico. We found that the probability of finding migratory sharks in the isotopic niche of Revillagigedo-resident sharks was low, likely reflecting the use of habitats outside the archipelago by highly mobile species. Community-wide variations in mercury were primarily explained by shark length, revealing that bioaccumulation was the main driver of Hg concentrations. We failed to detect a clear effect of foraging habitat on shark mercury exposure, which may be related to migratory species using both exploited and protected areas when moving outside the Revillagigedo MPA. More similar studies on the potential mitigation of Hg contamination by MPAs are needed in the future if fishing pressure increases to satisfy the growing global human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Le Croizier
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Joel Montes Camarena S/N, Mazatlán, Sin, 82040, Mexico.
| | - Anne Lorrain
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla
- Pelagios-Kakunjá A.C, Sinaloa 1540, Col. Las Garzas, C.P. 23070, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico; Fins Attached: Marine Research and Conservation, 19675 Still Glen Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80908, USA
| | - James T Ketchum
- Pelagios-Kakunjá A.C, Sinaloa 1540, Col. Las Garzas, C.P. 23070, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico; MigraMar, Bodega Bay, CA, USA; Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Noroeste (CIBNOR), La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Felipe Amezcua-Martínez
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Joel Montes Camarena S/N, Mazatlán, Sin, 82040, Mexico
| | | | | | - Gauthier Schaal
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - David Point
- UMR Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Observatoire Midi Pyrénées (OMP), 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France
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8
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Shao B, Li Z, Wu Z, Yang N, Cui X, Lin H, Liu Y, He W, Zhao Y, Wang X, Tong Y. Impacts of autochthonous dissolved organic matter on the accumulation of methylmercury by phytoplankton and zooplankton in a eutrophic coastal ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122457. [PMID: 37633436 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122457] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) within the pelagic food webs is a crucial determinant of the MeHg concentration in the organisms at higher trophic levels. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is recognized for its influence on mercury (Hg) cycling in the aquatic environment because of its role in providing metabolic substrate for heterotrophic organism and serving as a strong ligand for MeHg. However, the impact of DOM on MeHg bioaccumulation in pelagic food chains remain controversial. Here, we explored MeHg bioaccumulation within a pelagic food web in China, in the eutrophic Bohai Sea and adjacent seas, covering a range of DOM concentrations and compositions. Our findings show that elevated concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phytoplankton biomass may contribute to a reduction in MeHg uptake by phytoplankton. Moreover, we observe that a higher level of autochthonous DOM in the water may result in more significant MeHg biomagnification in zooplankton. This can be explained by alterations in the structure of pelagic food webs and/or an increase in the direct consumption of DOM and particulate organic matter (POM) containing MeHg. Our study offers direct field monitoring evidence of dual roles played by DOM in regulating MeHg transfers from water to phytoplankton and zooplankton in coastal pelagic food webs. A thorough understanding of the intricate interactions is essential for a more comprehensive evaluation of ecological risks associated with MeHg exposure in coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Shao
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhike Li
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhengyu Wu
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ning Yang
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xiaoyu Cui
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Huiming Lin
- College of Urban & Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yiwen Liu
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Wei He
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yingxin Zhao
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xuejun Wang
- College of Urban & Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yindong Tong
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China.
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9
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Yu C, Lin H, Guo J, Peng M, Liu M, Tong Y, Lu Y, Wang X, Pan X. Significant impacts of river inputs on the distributions and transports of mercury and methylmercury in nearshore and open seas - Simulation based on field surveys and mass balance modeling. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108216. [PMID: 37738696 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are important sources of Hg for adjacent seas, and seafood from nearshore waters is a major source of Hg exposure for humans. There is thus a key scientific concern regarding how much riverine Hg inputs influence Hg loads in nearshore waters as well as how far the impact range can extend from the river to the open sea. In addition, it is important to understand the influence of anthropogenic hydro-facilities and activities on Hg levels in downstream seas. Because of the concise mass exchange pattern between the seas and the previously demonstrated intensive Hg inputs under anthropogenic regulation from the Yellow River, the Bohai and Yellow Seas, which are key fishery and marine breeding areas for China, are an ideal research area for exploring the impacts of riverine Hg on nearshore and adjacent open seas. Field surveys were conducted in eight major rivers and two seas, and 433 water samples were collected. The main Hg input and output terms (rivers, ocean currents, underground discharge, sewage, coastal erosion, atmospheric deposition, surface evasion, sedimentation, and fisheries) were quantified in the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Owing to the high inputs from the Yellow and Yalu Rivers, elevated THg concentrations were found. Apart from direct MeHg discharge, riverine nutrients may also seemingly affect nearshore MeHg. Using mass balance models, we found that the Yellow River (9.8 t) was the dominant Hg source in the Bohai Sea, which accounted for more than half of all contributions, and the Bohai Sea played the role of a secondary source of Hg to the Yellow Sea, with a flux of 3.3 t. Anthropogenic hydro-activities in large rivers could significantly influence Hg outputs and loads in the nearshore and even open seas. This study provides useful information for water resource management applications to reduce potential MeHg risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Huiming Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Maodian Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yindong Tong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
| | - Yifan Lu
- Zhejiang Construction Investment Environment Engineering Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xuejun Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Xiangliang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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10
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Médieu A, Lorrain A, Point D. Are tunas relevant bioindicators of mercury concentrations in the global ocean? ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:994-1009. [PMID: 37328690 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02679-y] [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] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to toxic methylmercury mainly by consuming marine fish. The Minamata Convention aims at reducing anthropogenic mercury releases to protect human and ecosystem health, employing monitoring programs to meet its objectives. Tunas are suspected to be sentinels of mercury exposure in the ocean, though not evidenced yet. Here, we conducted a literature review of mercury concentrations in tropical tunas (bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack) and albacore, the four most exploited tunas worldwide. Strong spatial patterns of tuna mercury concentrations were shown, mainly explained by fish size, and methylmercury bioavailability in marine food web, suggesting that tunas reflect spatial trends of mercury exposure in their ecosystem. The few mercury long-term trends in tunas were contrasted and sometimes disconnected to estimated regional changes in atmospheric emissions and deposition, highlighting potential confounding effects of legacy mercury, and complex reactions governing the fate of mercury in the ocean. Inter-species differences of tuna mercury concentrations associated with their distinct ecology suggest that tropical tunas and albacore could be used complementarily to assess the vertical and horizontal variability of methylmercury in the ocean. Overall, this review elevates tunas as relevant bioindicators for the Minamata Convention, and calls for large-scale and continuous mercury measurements within the international community. We provide guidelines for tuna sample collection, preparation, analyses and data standardization with recommended transdisciplinary approaches to explore tuna mercury content in parallel with observation abiotic data, and biogeochemical model outputs. Such global and transdisciplinary biomonitoring is essential to explore the complex mechanisms of the marine methylmercury cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Médieu
- IRD, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR 6539, LEMAR, Plouzané, France.
| | - Anne Lorrain
- IRD, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR 6539, LEMAR, Plouzané, France
| | - David Point
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, GET, UMR CNRS 5563/IRD 234, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
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11
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Tesán-Onrubia JA, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Dufour A, Harmelin-Vivien M, García-Arévalo I, Knoery J, Thomas B, Carlotti F, Tedetti M, Bănaru D. Bioconcentration, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury in plankton of the Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115439. [PMID: 37639915 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115439] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Plankton plays a prominent role in the bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg). The MERITE-HIPPOCAMPE campaign was carried out in spring 2019 along a north-south transect including coastal and offshore areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Sampling of sea water and plankton by pumping and nets was carried out in the chlorophyll maximum layer. Two size-fractions of phytoplankton (0.7-2.7 and 2.7-20 μm) and five of zooplankton (between 60 and >2000 μm) were separated, and their total mercury (THg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) contents were measured. Bioconcentration of THg was significantly higher in the smallest phytoplankton size-fraction dominated by Synechococcus spp. The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MMHg in zooplankton was influenced by size, food sources, biochemical composition and trophic level. MMHg was biomagnified in the plankton food web, while THg decreased toward higher trophic levels. Higher MMHg concentrations were measured in oligotrophic areas. Plankton communities in the Southern Mediterranean Sea had lower MMHg concentrations than those in the Northern Mediterranean Sea. These results highlighted the influence of environmental conditions and trophodynamics on the transfer of Hg in Mediterranean plankton food webs, with implications for higher trophic level consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aurélie Dufour
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM110, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Joël Knoery
- Ifremer, CCEM Contamination Chimique des Ecosystèmes Marins, F-44311 Nantes, France
| | - Bastien Thomas
- Ifremer, CCEM Contamination Chimique des Ecosystèmes Marins, F-44311 Nantes, France
| | - François Carlotti
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM110, Marseille, France
| | - Marc Tedetti
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM110, Marseille, France
| | - Daniela Bănaru
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM110, Marseille, France.
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12
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Chan KH, Gowidjaja JAP, Urera MQ, Wainwright BJ. Analysis of Toxic Metals Found in Shark Fins Collected from a Global Trade Hub. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12620-12631. [PMID: 37582282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
As human activities release increasingly more fossil fuel-derived emissions directly into the atmosphere, terrestrial, aquatic, or marine ecosystems, the biomagnification and bioaccumulation of toxic metals in seafood is an ever more pressing concern. As apex predators, sharks are particularly susceptible to biomagnification and bioaccumulation. The consumption of shark fin is frequent throughout Asia, and their ingestion represents a pathway through which human exposure to potentially unsafe levels of toxic metals can occur. Shark fins processed for sale are difficult, if not impossible to identify to the species level by visual methods alone. Here, we DNA-barcoded 208 dried and processed fins and in doing so, identified fourteen species of shark. Using these identifications, we determined the habitat of the shark that the fin came from and the concentrations of four toxic metals (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead) in all 208 samples via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We further analyzed these concentrations by habitat type, either coastal or pelagic, and show that toxic metal concentrations vary significantly between species and habitat. Pelagic species have significantly higher concentrations of mercury in comparison to coastal species, whereas coastal species have significantly higher concentrations of arsenic. No significant differences in cadmium or lead concentrations were detected between pelagic or coastal species. Our results indicate that a number of analyzed samples contain toxic metal concentrations above safe human consumption levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiat Hwa Chan
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore
- NUS College, National University of Singapore, 18 College Avenue East, Singapore 138593, Singapore
| | | | - Mariana Quesada Urera
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore
| | - Benjamin J Wainwright
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore
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13
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Yue F, Angot H, Blomquist B, Schmale J, Hoppe CJM, Lei R, Shupe MD, Zhan L, Ren J, Liu H, Beck I, Howard D, Jokinen T, Laurila T, Quéléver L, Boyer M, Petäjä T, Archer S, Bariteau L, Helmig D, Hueber J, Jacobi HW, Posman K, Xie Z. The Marginal Ice Zone as a dominant source region of atmospheric mercury during central Arctic summertime. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4887. [PMID: 37580358 PMCID: PMC10425351 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations in the Arctic exhibit a clear summertime maximum, while the origin of this peak is still a matter of debate in the community. Based on summertime observations during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition and a modeling approach, we further investigate the sources of atmospheric Hg in the central Arctic. Simulations with a generalized additive model (GAM) show that long-range transport of anthropogenic and terrestrial Hg from lower latitudes is a minor contribution (~2%), and more than 50% of the explained GEM variability is caused by oceanic evasion. A potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis further shows that oceanic evasion is not significant throughout the ice-covered central Arctic Ocean but mainly occurs in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) due to the specific environmental conditions in that region. Our results suggest that this regional process could be the leading contributor to the observed summertime GEM maximum. In the context of rapid Arctic warming and the observed increase in width of the MIZ, oceanic Hg evasion may become more significant and strengthen the role of the central Arctic Ocean as a summertime source of atmospheric Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fange Yue
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland.
- Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000, Grenoble, France.
| | - Byron Blomquist
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Julia Schmale
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Clara J M Hoppe
- Alfred Wegener Institut-Helmholtzzentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ruibo Lei
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science of the MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Matthew D Shupe
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Liyang Zhan
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of natural resources, Xiamen, China
| | - Jian Ren
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Hailong Liu
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Ivo Beck
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Dean Howard
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Tuija Jokinen
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Climate & Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Tiia Laurila
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lauriane Quéléver
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthew Boyer
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuukka Petäjä
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stephen Archer
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Ludovic Bariteau
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Boulder Atmosphere Innovation Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Hans-Werner Jacobi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Kevin Posman
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Zhouqing Xie
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China.
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14
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Alilović A, Živković I, Horvat M. Optimisation of distillation as an isolation method for the determination of low methylmercury concentrations in urine samples. Talanta 2023; 264:124765. [PMID: 37295056 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) speciation in urine requires a robust, reproducible and sensitive technique that enables reliable measurements in limited sample volumes. Conventional MeHg extraction by acid digestion allows for processing of only small amounts of urine digest, making accurate MeHg determination in low-concentration samples virtually impossible. Distillation has been proven as an efficient isolation method with very low detection limits for measuring MeHg in water samples; therefore, in this study, it was optimised for urine samples. Combined with aqueous phase ethylation, purging with nitrogen, preconcentration on Tenax trap, isothermal gas chromatography and cold vapour atomic fluorescence detection, distillation achieved high and repeatable urine spike recoveries of 94% ± 7%. Larger measured aliquot volume led to a significantly lower limit of detection (LOD) for distillation compared with acid digestion (1.1 versus 5.5 pg g-1 urine). Thirty-two general population urine samples were analysed using both methods, and the results were compared. Distillation led to better separation of MeHg from inorganic Hg and the matrix. Good correlation was observed between the results obtained by the two methods for samples with MeHg concentrations above 10 pg g-1 urine (slope = 0.9492, R2 = 0.9879). For samples below this MeHg concentration, distillation was superior, enabling the measurement of MeHg in 9 out of 12 urine samples that were below the LOD of acid digestion. Distillation had significantly lower measurement uncertainty, particularly in the low-concentration samples, where the expanded combined standard uncertainty of the acid digestion method reached as high as 43.2% (k = 2), predominantly owing to poor sample repeatability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adna Alilović
- International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Igor Živković
- International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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15
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Sonke JE, Angot H, Zhang Y, Poulain A, Björn E, Schartup A. Global change effects on biogeochemical mercury cycling. AMBIO 2023; 52:853-876. [PMID: 36988895 PMCID: PMC10073400 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01855-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Past and present anthropogenic mercury (Hg) release to ecosystems causes neurotoxicity and cardiovascular disease in humans with an estimated economic cost of $117 billion USD annually. Humans are primarily exposed to Hg via the consumption of contaminated freshwater and marine fish. The UNEP Minamata Convention on Hg aims to curb Hg release to the environment and is accompanied by global Hg monitoring efforts to track its success. The biogeochemical Hg cycle is a complex cascade of release, dispersal, transformation and bio-uptake processes that link Hg sources to Hg exposure. Global change interacts with the Hg cycle by impacting the physical, biogeochemical and ecological factors that control these processes. In this review we examine how global change such as biome shifts, deforestation, permafrost thaw or ocean stratification will alter Hg cycling and exposure. Based on past declines in Hg release and environmental levels, we expect that future policy impacts should be distinguishable from global change effects at the regional and global scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen E. Sonke
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, 14 ave Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Hélène Angot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 1025 rue de la piscine, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu China
| | - Alexandre Poulain
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5 Canada
| | - Erik Björn
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Amina Schartup
- Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
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16
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Schneider L, Fisher JA, Diéguez MC, Fostier AH, Guimaraes JRD, Leaner JJ, Mason R. A synthesis of mercury research in the Southern Hemisphere, part 1: Natural processes. AMBIO 2023; 52:897-917. [PMID: 36943620 PMCID: PMC10073387 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate a short 3-6-month atmospheric lifetime for mercury (Hg). This implies Hg emissions are predominantly deposited within the same hemisphere in which they are emitted, thus placing increasing importance on considering Hg sources, sinks and impacts from a hemispheric perspective. In the absence of comprehensive Hg data from the Southern Hemisphere (SH), estimates and inventories for the SH have been drawn from data collected in the NH, with the assumption that the NH data are broadly applicable. In this paper, we centre the uniqueness of the SH in the context of natural biogeochemical Hg cycling, with focus on the midlatitudes and tropics. Due to its uniqueness, Antarctica warrants an exclusive review of its contribution to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg and is therefore excluded from this review. We identify and describe five key natural differences between the hemispheres that affect the biogeochemical cycling of Hg: biome heterogeneity, vegetation type, ocean area, methylation hotspot zones and occurence of volcanic activities. We review the current state of knowledge of SH Hg cycling within the context of each difference, as well as the key gaps that impede our understanding of natural Hg cycling in the SH. The differences demonstrate the limitations in using NH data to infer Hg processes and emissions in the SH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Schneider
- School of Culture, History and Language. Australian National University, Coombs Bld 9 Fellows Rd, Acton. Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Jenny A. Fisher
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - María C. Diéguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), 1250 San Carlos de Bariloche (8400), Quintral Argentina
| | - Anne-Hélène Fostier
- Instituto de Química/Unicamp, Rua Josué de Castro, s/n – Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP 13083-970 Brazil
| | - Jean R. D. Guimaraes
- Lab. de Traçadores, Inst. de Biofísica, Bloco G, CCS (Centro de Ciências da Saúde), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão CEP 21941-902 Brazil
| | - Joy J. Leaner
- Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape Government, 1 Dorp Street, Western Cape, Cape Town, 8001 South Africa
| | - Robert Mason
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340 USA
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Cusset F, Reynolds SJ, Carravieri A, Amouroux D, Asensio O, Dickey RC, Fort J, Hughes BJ, Paiva VH, Ramos JA, Shearer L, Tessier E, Wearn CP, Cherel Y, Bustamante P. A century of mercury: Ecosystem-wide changes drive increasing contamination of a tropical seabird species in the South Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 323:121187. [PMID: 36736563 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal that adversely impacts human and wildlife health. The amount of Hg released globally in the environment has increased steadily since the Industrial Revolution, resulting in growing contamination in biota. Seabirds have been extensively studied to monitor Hg contamination in the world's oceans. Multidecadal increases in seabird Hg contamination have been documented in polar, temperate and subtropical regions, whereas in tropical regions they are largely unknown. Since seabirds accumulate Hg mainly from their diet, their trophic ecology is fundamental in understanding their Hg exposure over time. Here, we used the sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), the most abundant tropical seabird, as bioindicator of temporal variations in Hg transfer to marine predators in tropical ecosystems, in response to trophic changes and other potential drivers. Body feathers were sampled from 220 sooty terns, from museum specimens (n = 134) and free-living birds (n = 86) from Ascension Island, in the South Atlantic Ocean, over 145 years (1876-2021). Chemical analyses included (i) total- and methyl-Hg, and (ii) carbon (δ1³C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes, as proxies of foraging habitat and trophic position, respectively, to investigate the relationship between trophic ecology and Hg contamination over time. Despite current regulations on its global emissions, mean Hg concentrations were 58.9% higher in the 2020s (2.0 μg g-1, n = 34) than in the 1920s (1.2 μg g-1, n = 107). Feather Hg concentrations were negatively and positively associated with δ1³C and δ15N values, respectively. The sharp decline of 2.9 ‰ in δ1³C values over time indicates ecosystem-wide changes (shifting primary productivity) in the tropical South Atlantic Ocean and can help explain the observed increase in terns' feather Hg concentrations. Overall, this study provides invaluable information on how ecosystem-wide changes can increase Hg contamination of tropical marine predators and reinforces the need for long-term regulations of harmful contaminants at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Cusset
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en Bois, France.
| | - S James Reynolds
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
| | - Alice Carravieri
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en Bois, France
| | - David Amouroux
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et Les Matériaux (IPREM), UMR, 5254, CNRS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France
| | - Océane Asensio
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et Les Matériaux (IPREM), UMR, 5254, CNRS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France
| | - Roger C Dickey
- Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - B John Hughes
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
| | - Vitor H Paiva
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Laura Shearer
- Ascension Island Government Conservation and Fisheries Directorate (AIGCFD), Georgetown, Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean, UK
| | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et Les Matériaux (IPREM), UMR, 5254, CNRS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France
| | - Colin P Wearn
- The Royal Air Force Ornithological Society (RAFOS), High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
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18
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Li Z, Pethybridge HR, Gong Y, Wu F, Dai X, Li Y. Effect of body size, feeding ecology and maternal transfer on mercury accumulation of vulnerable silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis in the eastern tropical pacific. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 309:119751. [PMID: 35835271 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119751] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis is a large pelagic species distributed in the global oceans and was recently listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN because of its decline in population due to overfishing. As an apex predator, the silky shark can accumulate elevated quantities of mercury (Hg), posing a potential risk to its remaining population. In this study, total Hg (THg) concentrations were determined in silky shark muscle, liver, dermis, red blood cells (RBC) and plasma sampled from the eastern tropical Pacific, and δ15N values were measured to explore the influence of feeding ecology on Hg accumulation. The highest THg concentrations were in muscle (7.81 ± 6.70 μg g-1 dry weight (dw) or 2.14 ± 1.83 μg g-1 wet weight (ww)) and liver (7.88 ± 10.22 μg g-1 dw or 4.66 ± 6.04 μg g-1 ww) rather than dermis, RBC and plasma. The THg concentrations in all tissue types were significantly correlated with fork length and showed faster accumulation rates after maturity. Maternal THg transfer was observed in silky sharks with embryos having 33.16% and 1.98% in muscle and liver compared with their respective mothers. The potentially harmful THg concentrations in silky shark tissues and embryos may lead to health problems of sharks and consumers. THg concentrations were negatively correlated with δ15N values for all tissues, indicating likely baseline variations in δ15N values that reflect changes in the foraging habitats or regions of silky sharks with size or age. Lastly, strong correlations were observed among THg concentrations of all tissue types, indicating that nonlethal sampling of muscle and dermis tissue can be used effectively to quantify THg concentration of other internal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezheng Li
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Heidi R Pethybridge
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Yi Gong
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China.
| | - Feng Wu
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Dai
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunkai Li
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China.
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19
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Maret W. The quintessence of metallomics: a harbinger of a different life science based on the periodic table of the bioelements. Metallomics 2022; 14:mfac051. [PMID: 35820043 PMCID: PMC9406523 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the field of metallomics. As a landmark in time, it is an occasion to reflect on the past, present, and future of this integrated field of biometal sciences. A fundamental bias is one reason for having metallomics as a scientific discipline. The focus of biochemistry on the six non-metal chemical elements, collectively known with the acronym SPONCH (sulphur, phosphorus, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen), glosses over the fact that the lower quantities of many other elements have qualities that made them instrumental in the evolution of life and pivotal in numerous life processes. The metallome, alongside the genome, proteome, lipidome, and glycome, should be regarded as a fifth pillar of elemental-vis-à-vis molecular-building blocks in biochemistry. Metallomics as 'global approaches to metals in the biosciences' considers the biological significance of most chemical elements in the periodic table, not only the ones essential for life, but also the non-essential ones that are present in living matter-some at higher concentrations than the essential ones. The non-essential elements are bioactive with either positive or negative effects. Integrating the significance of many more chemical elements into the life sciences requires a transformation in learning and teaching with a focus on elemental biology in addition to molecular biology. It should include the dynamic interactions between the biosphere and the geosphere and how the human footprint is changing the ecology globally and exposing us to many additional chemical elements that become new bioelements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Maret
- Metal Metabolism Group, Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London,London, UK
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20
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Augustyniak J, Lipka G, Kozlowska H, Caloni F, Buzanska L. Oxygen as an important factor modulating in vitro MeHgCl toxicity associated with mitochondrial genes in hiPSCs. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 241:113737. [PMID: 35696963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are energy factories of cells and important targets for methylmercury chloride (MgHgCl). Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known environmental toxicant that bioaccumulates in fish and shellfish. It readily crosses the placental barrier, making it a threat to correct fetal development. Despite being comprehensively investigated for years, this compound has not been assessed for its in vitro mitochondrial toxicity under different oxygen conditions. In this study, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were used to evaluate the dependence of the expression of genes associated with pluripotency and mitochondria on atmospheric (21% O2) and low (5% O2) oxygen concentrations upon MeHgCl treatment. We showed that the toxicity of MeHgCl was strongly related to an increased mtDNA copy number and downregulation of the expression of an mtDNA replication and damage repair-associated gene POLG1 (Mitochondrial Polymerase Gamma Catalytic Subunit) in both tested oxygen conditions. In addition, the viability and mitochondrial membrane potential of hiPSCs were significantly lowered by MeHgCl regardless of the oxygen concentration. However, reactive oxygen species accumulation significantly increased only under atmospheric oxygen conditions; what was associated with increased expression of TFAM (Transcription Factor A, Mitochondrial) and NRF1 (Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1) and downregulation of PARK2 (Parkin RBR E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase). Taken together, our results demonstrated that MeHgCl could induce in vitro toxicity in hiPSCs through altering mitochondria-associated genes in an oxygen level-dependent manner. Thus, our work suggests that oxygen should be considered a factor was modulating the in vitro toxicity of environmental pollutants. Typical atmospheric conditions of in vitro culture significantly lower the predictive value of studies of such toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Augustyniak
- Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - G Lipka
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - H Kozlowska
- Laboratory of Advanced Microscopy Technique, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - F Caloni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - L Buzanska
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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21
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Li ML, Gillies EJ, Briner R, Hoover CA, Sora KJ, Loseto LL, Walters WJ, Cheung WWL, Giang A. Investigating the dynamics of methylmercury bioaccumulation in the Beaufort Sea shelf food web: a modeling perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1010-1025. [PMID: 35748915 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00108j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
High levels of methylmercury (MeHg) have been reported in Arctic marine biota, posing health risks to wildlife and human beings. Although MeHg concentrations of some Arctic species have been monitored for decades, the key environmental and ecological factors driving temporal trends of MeHg are largely unclear. We develop an ecosystem-based MeHg bioaccumulation model for the Beaufort Sea shelf (BSS) using the Ecotracer module of Ecopath with Ecosim, and apply the model to explore how MeHg toxicokinetics and food web trophodynamics affect bioaccumulation in the BSS food web. We show that a food web model with complex trophodynamics and relatively simple MeHg model parametrization can capture the observed biomagnification pattern of the BSS. While both benthic and pelagic production are important for transferring MeHg to fish and marine mammals, simulations suggest that benthic organisms are primarily responsible for driving the high trophic magnification factor in the BSS. We illustrate ways of combining empirical observations and modelling experiments to generate hypotheses about factors affecting food web bioaccumulation, including the MeHg elimination rate, trophodynamics, and species migration behavior. The results indicate that population dynamics rather than MeHg elimination may determine population-wide concentrations for fish and lower trophic level organisms, and cause large differences in concentrations between species at similar trophic levels. This research presents a new tool and lays the groundwork for future research to assess the pathways of global environmental changes in MeHg bioaccumulation in Arctic ecosystems in the past and the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Ling Li
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
- Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Emma J Gillies
- Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Renea Briner
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
| | - Carie A Hoover
- Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Kristen J Sora
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa L Loseto
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department Environment and Geography, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - William J Walters
- Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - William W L Cheung
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Giang
- Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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22
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Barbosa RV, Point D, Médieu A, Allain V, Gillikin DP, Couturier LIE, Munaron JM, Roupsard F, Lorrain A. Mercury concentrations in tuna blood and muscle mirror seawater methylmercury in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113801. [PMID: 35671615 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between mercury in seafood and the distribution of oceanic methylmercury is key to understand human mercury exposure. Here, we determined mercury concentrations in muscle and blood of bigeye and yellowfin tunas from the Western and Central Pacific. Results showed similar latitudinal patterns in tuna blood and muscle, indicating that both tissues are good candidates for mercury monitoring. Complementary tuna species analyses indicated species- and tissue- specific mercury patterns, highlighting differences in physiologic processes of mercury uptake and accumulation associated with tuna vertical habitat. Tuna mercury content was correlated to ambient seawater methylmercury concentrations, with blood being enriched at a higher rate than muscle with increasing habitat depth. The consideration of a significant uptake of dissolved methylmercury from seawater in tuna, in addition to assimilation from food, might be interesting to test in models to represent the spatiotemporal evolutions of mercury in tuna under different mercury emission scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina V Barbosa
- Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France.
| | - David Point
- Geosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET) - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, France.
| | - Anaïs Médieu
- Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Valérie Allain
- Pacific Community, Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - David P Gillikin
- Department of Geosciences, Union College, 807 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308, USA
| | | | | | - François Roupsard
- Pacific Community, Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Anne Lorrain
- Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
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Quillfeldt P, Cherel Y, Navarro J, Phillips RA, Masello JF, Suazo CG, Delord K, Bustamante P. Variation Among Species and Populations, and Carry-Over Effects of Winter Exposure on Mercury Accumulation in Small Petrels. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.915199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Even in areas as remote as the Southern Ocean, marine organisms are exposed to contaminants that arrive through long-range atmospheric transport, such as mercury (Hg), a highly toxic metal. In previous studies in the Southern Ocean, inter-specific differences in Hg contamination in seabirds was generally related to their distribution and trophic position. However, the Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea) was a notable exception among small seabirds, with higher Hg levels than expected. In this study, we compared the Hg contamination of Blue Petrels and Thin-billed Prions (Pachyptila belcheri), which both spend the non-breeding season in polar waters, with that of Antarctic Prions (Pachyptila desolata), which spend the winter in subtropical waters. We collected body feathers and blood samples, representing exposure during different time-frames. Hg concentrations in feathers, which reflect contamination throughout the annual cycle, were related to δ13C values, and varied with ocean basin and species. Blue Petrels from breeding colonies in the southeast Pacific Ocean had much higher feather Hg concentrations than expected after accounting for latitude and their low trophic positions. Both Hg concentrations and δ15N in blood samples of Blue Petrels were much lower at the end than at the start of the breeding period, indicating a marked decline in Hg contamination and trophic positions, and the carry-over of Hg burdens between the wintering and breeding periods. Elevated Hg levels may reflect greater reliance on myctophids or foraging in sea-ice environments. Our study underlines that carry-over of Hg concentrations in prey consumed in winter may determine body Hg burdens well into the breeding season.
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