Review
Environmental Sciences
Sajid Rashid, Izaz Ali Shah, Roberto Xavier Supe Tulcan, Wajid Rashid, Mika Sillanpaa
Summary: Mercury is a highly toxic and mobile heavy metal that poses significant environmental and health risks. High concentrations of mercury were found in the environment, particularly in surface water, soil, sediments, and urban atmosphere. Seafood and vegetable consumption were associated with high health risks, while risks from soil and groundwater ingestion were relatively low.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ananya Ashok, Lone Hoj, Diane L. Brinkman, Andrew P. Negri, Susana Agusti
Summary: This study investigated the uptake rates and accumulation of a C-13-labeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in corals. The results showed that the accumulation of PAHs in corals was higher with increasing food-chain length, with predation having the largest contribution. Additionally, dissolved or diet-bound PAHs had no significant effect on the photosynthetic efficiency of coral symbionts.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jacqueline R. Gerson, Rebecca Dorman, Collin Eagles-Smith, Emily S. Bernhardt, David Walters
Summary: Research shows that selenium exposure may reduce MeHg bioaccumulation and toxicity, but does not affect the MeHg concentration in diatoms under high MeHg treatment. Only in high MeHg treatment, the addition of SeMet leads to a decrease in mayfly MeHg concentrations and biomagnification factors. However, Se is toxic to mayflies, causing negative effects such as reduced escape behavior and prolonged metamorphosis time.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ying Zhang, Sijia Li, Yafeng Zhang, Yezi Chen, Xutao Wang, Yuxin Sun
Summary: This study reviewed the contamination of HBCDs in marine biota in China and summarized their bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the marine food web. The study also discussed future research directions, including the transport and fluxes of HBCDs in the marine environment, the biomagnification in different ecosystems, and the metabolism in different marine species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mark A. Cantu, Frank A. P. C. Gobas
Summary: The study investigated the bioaccumulation behavior of D6 in rainbow trout and found that the depuration of D6 in fish was mainly through biotransformation in the fish body, leading to a lack of biomagnification. The bioaccumulation capacity of D6 was markedly less than many hydrophobic organochlorines based on comparisons with similar profiles for other chemicals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinpeng Tang, Jinhua Zhang, Linhui Su, Yanyan Jia, Yang Yang
Summary: This study investigated the concentrations and abundance of 11 antibiotics in water, sediment, and various aquatic organisms in the Pearl River, South China. The results showed that the bioaccumulation of antibiotics was positively correlated with their ionized form. Sediment ingestion was found to be a potential route of antibiotic exposure, as indicated by higher bioaccumulation in benthic organisms compared to fish. Additionally, only ciprofloxacin exhibited significant trophic magnification, suggesting the importance of metabolic biotransformation in driving the biomagnification of antibiotics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rachel G. Clarke, Sara J. Klapstein, N. Kirk Hillier, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: This study found that the concentrations and uptake of methylmercury in caddisflies and mayflies collected from two temperate lakes and one brook in Nova Scotia, Canada were influenced by water chemistry. The research highlights the importance of quantifying variations in MeHg bioaccumulation and BAFs of common aquatic insect bioindicators at the base of complex food webs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sofi Jonsson, Michelle Nerentorp Mastromonaco, Feiyue Wang, Andrea G. Bravo, Warren R. L. Cairns, John Chetelat, Thomas A. Douglas, Gretchen Lescord, Liisa Ukonmaanaho, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida
Summary: Anthropogenic mercury undergoes long-range transport to the Arctic and can be transformed into methylmercury, potentially leading to high exposure in Arctic inhabitants and wildlife. Biogeochemical and ecological processes in the Arctic play a crucial role in determining the environmental exposure of mercury, particularly the bioavailability, methylation and demethylation, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of methylmercury. Recent scientific advances have provided insights into these processes and highlighted their importance in understanding the fate of anthropogenic mercury in Arctic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. H. Erasmus, N. J. Smit, R. Gerber, B. C. Schaeffner, N. Nkabi, V. Wepener
Summary: This study evaluated the total mercury concentrations in 22 species of elasmobranchs along the South African coastline. The results showed that the concentrations on the east coast were in the same range or higher compared to previous years, raising conservation concerns.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xueheng Wang, Qing Xie, Yongmin Wang, Hongjian Lu, Mei Fu, Dingyong Wang, Jiajia Li
Summary: The fish in China's largest reservoir, the Three Gorges Reservoir, are affected by pollutants, which directly impact the health of local residents. The study found that the fish in the tributaries of the reservoir have bioaccumulation and biomagnification characteristics with regards to total mercury and methylmercury. The maximum safe daily consumption of fish was estimated based on the oral reference dose according to US-EPA guidelines.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Di Du, Yonglong Lu, Yunqiao Zhou, Qifeng Li, Meng Zhang, Guoxiang Han, Haotian Cui, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: Knowledge on bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in food webs is crucial in evaluating contaminant hazards. This study investigated the presence of PFAAs in organisms sampled from Qinzhou Bay in the South China Sea, and found different distribution patterns between short-chain and long-chain PFAAs based on trophic positions. Results suggest a potential biomagnification effect of PFOS, while the effects of PFOA were less clear. Banned long-chain PFAAs were found to still persist in the coastal marine ecosystem, while emerging short-chain PFAAs showed high concentrations but no biomagnification.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lukasz J. Binkowski, Jerome Fort, Maud Brault-Favrou, Fabrice Gallien, Gilles Le Guillou, Olivier Chastel, Paco Bustamante
Summary: Human activities are the main source of mercury pollution in the ocean, with seabirds serving as valuable bioindicators of contamination levels. This study found that trophic position and foraging habitat influence mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of marine gull chicks. The highest mercury concentrations were found in Great black-backed gull chicks, which may have toxic effects with potential consequences for their populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Izabela Pa Lka, Dominika Saniewska, Luiza Bielecka, Justyna Kobos, Waldemar Grzybowski
Summary: This study investigated the selenium concentration in water, phytoplankton, and zooplankton in the Baltic Sea and analyzed the factors affecting selenium absorption and transfer. The results showed that the biomass of plankton played an important role in shaping selenium concentration, and seasonal and taxonomic changes also influenced selenium concentration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruilin Shu, Wenbo Hu, Shike Gao, Shuo Zhang, Zheng Li, Baogui Liang, Wenwen Yu
Summary: This study analyzed the distribution characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal tracts of two migratory demersal fish species and examined the biomagnification potential of MPs in different body lengths. The results showed that the main color, shape, and polymer type of MPs were blue, fiber, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) respectively. The abundance of MPs was higher in one species compared to the other, and there was a correlation between MPs and body length in one species but not the other. MP bioaccumulation only occurred in one species, indicating the need for further research on MPs at the individual level.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haixiang Cheng, Chenhan Lv, Jianhui Li, Dexin Wu, Xugang Zhan, Ying Song, Nan Zhao, Hangbiao Jin
Summary: This study provides new insights into the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of PFNOBS in marine organisms, enhancing our understanding of its environmental behavior in the marine ecosystem.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sidney Fernandes Sales Junior, Evelyn Oliveira da Silva, Gabriel de Farias Araujo, Lorena Oliveira Souza Soares, Claudio Ernesto Taveira Parente, Olaf Malm, Enrico Mendes Saggioro, Fabio Verissimo Correia
Summary: Long-term exposure of Eisenia andrei earthworms to fluoroquinolone-contaminated poultry litter led to increased CAT and SOD activities, as well as dose-dependent responses in GST and GSH levels. However, lipid peroxidation levels showed a decreasing trend. These findings suggest a trend of antioxidant system attenuation in response to successive poultry litter applications, with major alterations observed in the first month of exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Siday Marrugo-Madrid, Manuel Salas-Moreno, Harry Gutierrez-Mosquera, Carlos Salazar-Camacho, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Sergi Diez
Summary: To fulfill the requirements of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, it is important to monitor mercury contamination in freshwater ecosystems near artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) areas. This study examined the feasibility of using the diffusive gradient in thin-films (DGT) technique to detect and quantify labile mercury and other metals in a hard-to-reach gold mining district in Colombia. The results showed that the labile mercury concentrations were higher in abandoned mining ponds compared to the river water, and the labile concentrations of other metals were related to their proximity to ASGM activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Leonomir Cordoba-Tovar, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Pablo Ramos Baron, Sergi Diez
Summary: Biomagnification of trace elements is increasingly evident in aquatic ecosystems, with mercury, arsenic, and selenium exhibiting different potential for biomagnification. The process is influenced by environmental and ecological factors, and involves key organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Siday Marrugo-Madrid, Jose Pinedo-Hernandez, Roberth Paternina-Uribe, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Sergi Diez
Summary: This study evaluated the risk to human health from consuming fruits, tubers, and fish contaminated with mercury and arsenic in a Colombian area affected by gold mining activities. The results showed that children and women of childbearing age had higher levels of methylmercury intake than the recommended safety limits. The intake of arsenic and mercury exceeded the safety levels for most population groups. There was also a potential risk of carcinogenicity from arsenic intake through food. Therefore, safety control mechanisms and environmental education strategies are crucial to protect the health of residents in areas impacted by gold mining activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cesar Argumedos De la Ossa, Andres Fernando Ramirez-Giraldo, Katy Arroyo-Alvis, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Sergi Diez
Summary: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between neuropsychological performance and exposure to mercury and arsenic in Colombian children and adolescents. The findings showed that a majority of the participants had mercury and arsenic levels above the reference values, and there were significant correlations between exposure levels and certain neuropsychological test performances.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gerlane de Medeiros Costa, Wilkinson Lopes Lazaro, Thaysa Costa Hurtado, Paulo Eduardo Teodoro, Jean Remy Davee Guimaraes, Aurea Regina Alves Ignacio, Manoel dos Santos Filho, Sergi Diez
Summary: There is still debate about the most suitable tissue to indicate mercury body burden in birds, with blood, feathers, and bill sheath being considered relevant. Feathers and bill sheath had higher mercury concentrations compared to claws, liver, and muscle. Ringed kingfishers had higher mercury values than Amazon kingfishers, and Amazon kingfishers from different rivers showed differences in mercury concentrations in claws and feathers.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thais de Castro Paiva, Eurizangela Pereira Dary, Inacio Abreu Pestana, Sidineia Aparecida Amadio, Olaf Malm, Daniele Kasper
Summary: This study finds that the bioaccumulation of mercury in fishes from an Amazonian lake is influenced by biological characteristics and environmental changes. Feeding habits and seasonal flood-pulse have a significant impact on mercury concentrations in fish muscles.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Larissa Gabriela Araujo Goebel, Breno Dias Vitorino, Angelica Vilas Boas Frota, Manoel dos Santos-Filho
Summary: In a megadiverse savanna-forest mosaic in the Brazilian Cerrado, we studied the interaction network between non-flying mammals and seven plant species with large fruits. Our observations recorded 18 mammal species interacting with these plants in 515 frugivory events. The network displayed a modular and non-nested topology, emphasizing the significant role of large mammals in the ecosystem.
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edvagner Oliveira, Aurea Regina Alves Ignacio, Wilkinson Lopes Lazaro, Sergi Diez, Jean Remy Davee Guimaraes, Manoel Santos-Filho
Summary: The green kingfisher can be used as a biomonitoring species for mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon. The birds in this region have high levels of mercury, including methylmercury. Analysis of feather samples from the green kingfisher is an effective tool for evaluating mercury contamination in tropical birds.
ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angel Cruz-Esquivel, Sergi Diez, Jose Luis Marrugo-Negrete
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the concentrations of total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and arsenic (As), as well as their genotoxic effects on fish species in freshwater habitats impacted by gold mining activities in Northern Colombia. The results showed significant genetic damage in the exposed groups compared to the control group, as indicated by the micronucleus (MN) and erythrocytic nuclear alterations (ENA) tests. The concentrations of THg, MeHg, and As in tissue samples were also significantly higher in the exposed groups, with the Bajo Cauca region posing the highest risk.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leonomir Cordoba-Tovar, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Pablo Andres Ramos Baron, Clelia Rosa Calao-Ramos, Sergi Diez
Summary: In this study, concentrations of mercury, methylmercury, and arsenic in the Atrato River were measured, and nuclear degenerations in the fish from the river were explored for the first time. The results showed that mercury and methylmercury concentrations in fish exceeded the WHO limit for populations at risk, while arsenic concentrations were below the international standard. Mercury concentrations in water exceeded the USEPA threshold, whereas arsenic concentrations were below the threshold. The study suggests that the Atrato River basin needs to be monitored and restored according to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leonomir Cordoba-Tovar, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Pablo Andres Ramos Baron, Sergi Diez
Summary: The Atrato River basin, an important tropical biome, has suffered severe ecological deterioration due to gold mining, posing threats to wildlife and human health. This study measured the concentrations of mercury and arsenic in sediments and assessed the associated ecological and human health risks. The results showed moderate contamination levels of mercury and increasing contamination of arsenic, indicating potential toxic risks to aquatic biota and adverse effects on human populations, particularly children.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Suarez-Criado, Pablo Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, J. Ignacio Garcia Alonso, Sergi Diez
Summary: To distinguish between routes of mercury exposure in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities and identify contamination sources, the study analyzed Hg species composition in human hair samples from six major gold mining regions in Colombia. The results showed that the median concentration of total mercury (THg) was higher than the reference dose recommended by the EPA, and a significant difference was observed among different fish consumption groups. The study also found that individuals involved in ASGM tasks had a higher Hg(II)/THg ratio compared to those not involved, suggesting that Hg(II) determination could be a useful indicator for evaluating direct exposure to mercury vapors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Odair Diogo da Silva, Joselaine Souto Hall Silva, Vancleber Divino Silva-Alves, Thatiane Martins da Costa, Eder Correa Fermiano, Claumir Cesar Muniz, Aurea Regina Alves Ignacio, Maria Antonia Carniello, Paulo Cesar Venere, Manoel dos Santos Filho, Dionei Jose da Silva
Summary: The introduction of exotic species poses a major threat to the planet's ecology and economy. This study reports the first records of Podocnemis unifilis introduced in the Northern Pantanal, Brazil, and highlights the need for continuous monitoring and mitigation strategies.