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Oliveira E, Ignácio ARA, Lázaro WL, Díez S, Guimarães JRD, Santos-Filho M. Green Kingfishers as Sentinel Species for Mercury Contamination in Amazon. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023:10.1007/s00244-023-01009-x. [PMID: 37355496 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-01009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a global contaminant found in the Amazon; it can be biomagnified in the aquatic trophic chain. The use of piscivorous birds for biomonitoring of mercury contamination is increasing, mainly due to the non-mobility of mercury in bird feathers. We examined the concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury in different tissues of the green kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana collected from the Teles Pires and Juruena Rivers in the southern Brazilian Amazon. We also evaluated total mercury in small Characidae fish (potential C. americana food) in the same areas. The results indicate contamination of the birds with high concentrations, on average two-times higher in the green kingfishers from the Teles Pires River compared to the Juruena River; the same results were found for the fish specimens. Fifty-eight per cent of the feather samples from the Juruena River and 90% from the Teles Pires River had total mercury concentrations above 5 µg/g, a level previously associated with adverse effects related to bird breeding. The methylmercury concentration was lowest in the liver, followed by feathers and highest in muscle. Although Juruena River bird feathers had a lower total mercury concentration, > 96% of the total mercury was methylmercury, the highest amount for specimens from both rivers. Although the concentration of Hg in the muscle of the green kingfisher is higher when compared to the feather and liver, the non-invasive monitoring through analysis of samples of feathers is an efficient biomonitoring tool for evaluation of mercury contamination in tropical birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edvagner Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Estudos em Limnologia, Biodiversidade e Etnobiologia do Pantanal, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil.
| | - Aurea Regina Alves Ignácio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Estudos em Limnologia, Biodiversidade e Etnobiologia do Pantanal, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
| | - Wilkinson Lopes Lázaro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Estudos em Limnologia, Biodiversidade e Etnobiologia do Pantanal, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
| | - Sergi Díez
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jean Remy Davee Guimarães
- Laboratório de Traçadores. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Manoel Santos-Filho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Estudos em Limnologia, Biodiversidade e Etnobiologia do Pantanal, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
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Dos Santos RL, de Sousa Correia JM, Dos Santos EM. Freshwater aquatic reptiles (Testudines and Crocodylia) as biomonitor models in assessing environmental contamination by inorganic elements and the main analytical techniques used: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:498. [PMID: 34287720 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09212-w] [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: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite the general lack of studies that use reptiles as bioindicators, the value of freshwater turtles and crocodilians in ecotoxicology has been proven, due to their importance as sentinel species. The aim of this study was to compile information on the use of freshwater turtles and crocodilians as environmental biomonitors of inorganic element contamination. We searched for articles in databases using specific keywords. A total of 104 studies published between the years 1970 and 2020 were collected. We noted a general increase in the number of studies involving turtles and crocodilians during the study time period. The Order Testudines were the subjects of 46% of the analysed publications, and the Order Crocodylia accounted for 54%. Within these studies, we counted 39 species (turtles n = 29 and crocodilians n = 10). Forty chemical elements were evaluated in the analysed articles, of which the majority represented non-essential elements (Hg, Cd, Pb). Although internal organs constituted the main biological matrix chosen for each group (37%), we observed an increase in the use of non-destructive matrices in both groups (scale, blood, tail muscle, carapace). The majority of analysed studies used HNO3 for the sample decomposition, with the majority of analyses being performed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (53%). Mainly blank controls (19%), analyte recovery (18%) and replicates (18%) were used as methods of validating analytical procedures. Furthermore, the studies used certified reference materials, which measure the accuracy of the methods used. We conclude that the increase in the use of aquatic reptiles in environmental monitoring research is mainly due to their ability to reveal integrated changes in ecosystems, aiding in environmental public policy decision-making and effective management plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayssa Lima Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Av. Gregório Ferraz Nogueira, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE, Brazil.
| | | | - Ednilza Maranhão Dos Santos
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Manoel de Medeiros, Recife, PE, Brazil
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Fagundes CK, Fath F, Côrtes LG, Uhlig V, Andrade PCM, Vogt RC, Pezzuti JCB, De Marco Júnior P. A large scale analysis of threats to the nesting sites of Podocnemis species and the effectiveness of the coverage of these areas by the Brazilian Action Plan for Amazon Turtle Conservation. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.125997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Salazar-Pammo AC, Achá D, Miranda-Chumacero G. Preferential Liver Accumulation of Mercury Explains Low Concentrations in Muscle of Caiman yacare (Alligatoridae) in Upper Amazon. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 106:264-269. [PMID: 33394066 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-03081-8] [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: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Caiman yacare is considered one of the top predators in the Amazon basin, and understanding pollutant distribution within its tissues may help its sustainable management. As a top predator, C. yacare should have the highest mercury concentrations, but has lower Hg concentrations than carnivorous fish (Rivera et al. 2016), which are part of their diet. We compared total Hg among liver, kidney, fat, and muscle of C. yacare, and whether trends in the distribution of Hg among tissues were like other crocodilians, aquatic birds, omnivorous, and carnivorous fish. Fat had the lowest concentrations (0.025 ± 0.03 mg kg-1) followed by muscle (0.15 ± 0.06 mg kg-1), kidney (0.57 ± 0.30 mg kg-1) and liver (1.81 ± 0.80 mg kg-1). Such preferential accumulation makes C. yacare meat a safer alternative for human consumption than carnivorous fish. The relation between Hg accumulation in liver and muscle is highest in crocodilians, which has evolutive and environmental implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Salazar-Pammo
- Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Carrera de Biología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, P.O. Box 10077, La Paz, Bolivia.
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Madidi-Tambopata Landscape Conservation Program, P.O. Box 3- 35181, La Paz, Bolivia.
| | - Dario Achá
- Instituto de Ecología, Unidad de Calidad Ambiental, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, P.O. Box 10077, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Guido Miranda-Chumacero
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Madidi-Tambopata Landscape Conservation Program, P.O. Box 3- 35181, La Paz, Bolivia
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Di Marzio A, Lambertucci SA, Fernandez AJG, Martínez-López E. From Mexico to the Beagle Channel: A review of metal and metalloid pollution studies on wildlife species in Latin America. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 176:108462. [PMID: 31228806 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Emissions of metals and metalloids (Hg; Cd; Cr; Cu; Pb; Ni; Zn; Fe; Mn; As; Se) generated by natural (e.g., geothermal activity) or anthropic causes (eg., industry or mining) represent a worldwide contamination problem, especially in developing countries. Exposure to high concentrations of these elements is harmful to living beings, including humans. Information on this type of contamination is scarce and fragmented, limiting research which could benefit from these data. To know the state of the research, we reviewed the studies of environmental pollution by metals and metalloids carried out on animal species in Latin America. The use of animals as biomonitors of contamination by metals and metalloids is a continuously expanding practice that allows for early detection of problems. With this work, we were able to identify the most studied areas in Latin America (Amazon, Gulf of California, coastal area between Rio de Janeiro and Florianopolis and River Plate Estuary). Moreover, we provide information on the most studied metals (Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and wild species, which evidence the use of endangered species. The data reviewed should help researchers to direct their efforts towards sparsely researched areas and facilitate bibliographic consultation of scientific information on exposure to metals and metalloids in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Di Marzio
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - S A Lambertucci
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de La Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (CONICET-Universidad Nacional Del Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - A J Garcia Fernandez
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - E Martínez-López
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
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Pignati MT, Pezzuti JCB, Souza LCD, Lima MDO, Pignati WA, Mendes RDA. Assessment of Mercury Concentration in Turtles ( Podocnemis unifilis) in the Xingu River Basin, Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1185. [PMID: 29882772 PMCID: PMC6028911 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Many studies on mercury contamination in aquatic biota deal with the effect of consuming metal-contaminated organisms on human health. In this study, we examined the factors that cause mercury contamination in Podocnemis unifilis in the Xingu River Basin of Mato Grosso and Pará States, Brazil. We quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy with cold vapor the total mercury (THg) content in the liver and muscle samples of 50 Podocnemis unifilis specimens collected from the basin. The liver and muscle samples contained 134.20 ± 119.30 ng g−1 THg and 24.86 ± 26.36 ng g−1 THg, respectively. Each chelonian or meal has, on average, 5.34× more Hg than the highest level established as acceptable. From the results it can be inferred that, given the weekly consumption of chelonians, the riverine and indigenous communities in the Xingu River Basin are at risk of chronic consumption of Hg in amounts beyond the acceptable limit. The potential high risk to the health of this population is evident; however, the risk classification needs to be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Teófilo Pignati
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi/CZO, Av. Perimetral, n.1, B. Guamá, Belém, PA 66075-750, Brazil.
| | - Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Núcleo de Altos Estudos Amazônicos, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Guamá, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Larissa Costa de Souza
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Rodovia BR 316 km 07, Levilândia, Ananindeua, PA 67010-000, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo de Oliveira Lima
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Rodovia BR 316 km 07, Levilândia, Ananindeua, PA 67010-000, Brazil.
| | - Wanderlei Antonio Pignati
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa, 2367, Boa Esperança, Cuiabá, MT CEP 78060-900, Brazil.
| | - Rosivaldo de Alcântara Mendes
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Rodovia BR 316 km 07, Levilândia, Ananindeua, PA 67010-000, Brazil.
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Giacomino A, Ruo Redda A, Squadrone S, Rizzi M, Abete MC, La Gioia C, Toniolo R, Abollino O, Malandrino M. Anodic stripping voltammetry with gold electrodes as an alternative method for the routine determination of mercury in fish. Comparison with spectroscopic approaches. Food Chem 2017; 221:737-745. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.11.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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