Trace metals in tissues of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) carcasses from the Northern Pacific Mexican Coast

Samples of liver, lung, heart, muscle, and blubber tissue from the carcasses of juvenile gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) found stranded on the coast off the Sea of Cortez, México were analyzed for a range of trace metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cd). The highest concentrations of copper, iron, zinc, and manganese were found in liver; nickel and lead in heart, and cadmium in kidney. In all tissues analyzed, iron, zinc and copper were present in the highest concentrations; however, some whales also showed high levels of cadmium in the kidney which could be related to their diet. Elevated concentrations of copper were found only in the liver of one whale. In general, where low levels of iron were found in the liver, they were associated with poor nutrition. Lead, nickel, manganese and zinc levels in liver were within the normal range, indicating that these whales had not been exposed to high levels of these metals.     

Heavy metal residues in tissues of marine turtles

Heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of marine turtles are presented. The most frequently monitored elements are mercury, cadmium and lead; and the tissues mainly analysed in nearly all the stranded individuals are muscle, liver and kidney. The highest mercury and cadmium levels were found in liver and kidney respectively; the majority of the lead burden existed in bones and carapace, while arsenic was present mainly in muscle tissue. Mercury occurred quite completely as methylmercury in muscle, whereas in liver the main form was the inorganic one. Arsenic was exclusively present in the metallorganic form either in muscle tissue or in liver. Metals in the eggs were mainly present in the yolk. Significantly higher concentration of mercury, copper, zinc and iron were found in yolk than albumen, while shell contained highest levels of manganese and copper. The load of trace metals in these animals strictly correlated with the species seems to depend on their different food behaviour.     

Metal tissue levels in Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups

The endangered Western population of the Steller sea lion declined for three decades for uncertain reasons. We present baseline data of metal concentrations in pups as a first step towards investigating the potential threat of developmental exposures to contaminants. Seven metals were investigated: arsenic, cadmium, silver, aluminum, mercury, lead and vanadium. Vanadium was detected in only a single blubber sample. Mercury appears to be the most toxicologically significant metal with concentrations in the liver well above the current action level for mercury in fish. The concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, silver, cadmium and lead were present in one-fourth to two-thirds of all samples and were at either comparable or below concentrations previously reported. Neither gender nor region had a significant effect on metal burdens. Future work should consider metal concentrations in juveniles and adults and toxicological studies need to be performed to begin to assess the toxicity of these metals.     

First record of sea snake (Hydrophis elegans, Hydrophiinae) entrapped in marine debris

Entanglement in derelict fishing gear and other marine debris is a major threat to the survival of large marine wildlife like cetaceans, seabirds and sea turtles. However, no previous reports of entanglement or entrapment have been recorded in sea snakes (Hydrophiinae). We report here on a sea snake (Hydrophis elegans) found with a ceramic washer encircling its body captured from the north-east coast of Queensland, Australia. The ring had constricted the body and over time caused extensive damage to the underlying tissues. A post-mortem examination showed the snake was severely emaciated as the ring restricted the passage of food to the stomach and intestine. This is the first record of mortality due to marine debris entrapment in sea snakes.     

Anthropogenic influences on heavy metals across marine habitats in the western coast of Venezuela

Concentrations of ten metals were measured in waters and sediments at 14 sites during four sampling periods (1996–1997). These sites include various marine ecosystems that are highly influenced by industry, tourism and river discharges, nine of which are within the Morrocoy National Park. Spatially, metal concentrations in water were homogenous, whereas in sediments their distributions were related to grain size. Maximum concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and mean concentrations of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in water were above the guideline values proposed by NOAA, indicating the potential of these metals for producing chronic effects in marine biota. Sheltered sites showed the highest metal concentrations in sediments; with Cd and Zn above these guidelines. Enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indexes suggested that metals in sediments were largely of natural origin except for Pb, Cd and vanadium (V), which were apparently associated with industrial effluents. A disruption of the spatial distribution of metals after heavy rainfall, when exposed sites reached concentrations as high as those in sheltered sites, showed the influence of nearby rivers. The potential increase of such climatic events could represent additional stress for natural protected areas in the Caribbean.     

2600年以来台湾大鬼湖中的金属通量

Sediment cores were collected from the remote subalpine Great Ghost Lake in southern Taiwan. Because the lake is anoxic the sediments are well preserved, distinctive past variations can be dated accurately. The vertical distributions of total and acid-leached metal concentrations for aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cerium, chromium, cesium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, rubidium, strontium, vanadium and zinc are measured and the fluxes determined. The dates of higher fluxes in the past 2600 years seem to correlate with dry spells. Further, trace metal fluxes show a large increase but Pb-206/Pb-207 ratios show a large decrease since 1950, suggesting a significant anthropogenic input.     

Bioaccumulation of Cadmium, Copper and Zinc in some Tissues of Three Species of Marine Turtles Stranded Along the French Atlantic Coasts

Cadmium, copper and zinc have been analysed in some tissues and organs of Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley (only muscle for this species) and Leatherback turtles stranded along the Atlantic coasts of France. The pancreas analysed only in Leatherback turtles exhibited the highest metal concentrations, which is very surprising for an organ which does not play a role in the detoxification processes. The distribution of these elements in kidney, liver and muscle were quite similar to that found in marine mammals or seabirds. Nevertheless, mean cadmium concentrations in the kidney were as high as 13.3 μg g⁻¹ wet weight in the Loggerhead turtles and 30.3 μg g⁻¹ wet weight in the Leatherback turtles. Such high concentrations in the Leatherback turtles have never been recorded before. The main source of cadmium for marine turtles is probably the food. The Leatherback turtles are known to feed mainly on jellyfish in this area. Ten times higher cadmium concentrations have been determined in jellyfish compared to fish. This would imply a greater exposure to cadmium for Leatherback turtles, which probably need to eat great quantities of jellyfish to cover their needs.     

Age-related change and distribution of cadmium and zinc concentrations in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubata) from the coast of Hokkaido,Japan

Tissue cadmium and zinc levels in Steller sea lions have been analysed to elucidate the body distribution of these metals and their age-related accumulation. A significant correlation between age (0.7–8.8 year old) and renal and hepatic cadmium concentration was noted. Of the tissues examined, the kidney manifested the highest cadmium content (mean: 20.9 μg g^?1 dry wt). A similar zinc distribution pattern was observed; its concentration was more uniform among tissues than that of cadmium. The tissue cadmium concentration in the Steller sea lion was lower than in other pinnipeds from various areas, possibly due to their feeding habits which may represent a major pathway of metal accumulation.     

Metals content in sediments of ephemeral streams with small reservoirs(the Negev Desert)

The content of 19 metals(chromium,cobalt,nickel,strontium,arsenic,magnesium,barium,cesium,gallium,rubidium,uranium,vanadium,zinc,lead,copper,cadmium,iron,manganese,and aluminum) in sediment in three ephemeral streams(Nahal Sansana,Nahal Revivim and Nahal Pura) with reservoirs in the Negev Desert is studied herein.The study was done in September 2016.The samples were collected from the surface layer of sediment(up to 10 cm) in the reservoirs and in the channels upstream and downstream of the reservoirs.Silt,which on average,accounted for 72% dominated in the sediment.In the spatial distribution of the particle size,sand and gravel fractions were deposited in the reservoirs.Aluminum,iron,and magnesium accounted for 99% of all analyzed metals.The Principal Component Analysis(PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis(HCA) showed that sediment in the Negev Desert channel upstream of the reservoirs had similar concentrations of metals.Similarities were also found between the analyzed reservoirs.The bottom sediment in reservoirs had higher concentrations of metals than sediment upstream and downstream of the reservoirs.The comparison of concentrations in upstream and downstream locations did not show any unambiguous trends because metal concentrations downstream from the reservoirs were not always lower than upstream of the reservoirs.The analysis of the sediment enrichment factor(EF) showed the highest value in the reservoirs and the lowest downstream of the reservoirs.The concentrations of most analyzed metals did not indicate the possibility of potential ecological risk(SQG).     

Heavy metals and high pup mortality in the Saimaa ringed seal population in eastern Finland

Hair nickel, mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium concentrations were measured from still-born ringed seal pups and from other ringed seal groups from Lake Saimaa in Finland. Nickel concentration was significantly higher in the hair samples of still-born pups as compared to live-born pups and to adult seals. There was assumed to be some connection between the stillbirth of the pups and nickel concentration of the hair. Mercury concentration of the natal hair of pups was significantly higher than the mercury concentration of the first adult hair but no clear connection between stillbirth and mercury pollution was observed. No differences were observed in cadmium, lead and chromium concentrations of the hair of still-born and other ringed seal groups.     

Distribution of heavy metals in tissues of the common seal

The lead, cadmium and mercury content of soft tissues and bone were determined for the common seal (Phoca vitulina) collected from off the coast of East Anglia and the West of Scotland. Lead levels were low in all tissues, cadmium accumulated with age in the kidney of West Scotland seals and mercury accumulated to high levels in the liver of seals from both areas. Comparison of our results with those of other workers, suggests that the rate of mercury accumulation in the liver of seals increases in the order: Canadian Arctic and Atlantic coast < West Scotland < East Anglia < Netherlands coast. Accumulation of mercury in the kidney and spleen of older seals, lends tentative support to the hypothesis that a protective demethylation and retention process in the liver may begin to leak mercury to other tissues at the high concentrations which have been recorded in the liver of older seals, and at the high dose rates which have been used in toxicological experiments.     

Assessment of the historical trace metal contamination of sediments in the Elizabeth River, Virginia

Two sediment cores (Southern Branch, PC-1, and Western Branch, WB-2) were taken from the highly industrialized Elizabeth River, Virginia. The concentrations of trace metals cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc, major elements iron, manganese and aluminum, organic carbon content and the specific surface area of the sediments were determined in each of the cores. Down-core variations in metals varied significantly in each core with maximum contamination events occurring at different times in different portions of the river. In PC-1, maximum metal concentrations were seen after the appearance of (137)Cs. In contrast, the highest levels in WB-2 occurred well before the appearance of (137)Cs. Although stricter environmental regulations have caused a decrease in metal concentrations since the 1980s, the concentrations in the surface sediments of many trace metals were elevated to levels 2-5 times higher than the levels at the bottom of the cores in both the Southern and Western Branches of the river.     

Lead,cadmium pollution of seafood and human health risk assessment in the coastline of the southern China

In order to evaluate the exposure risk of lead and cadmium in seafood for coastal residents in the coastline of the South China, representative seafood such as sea fish, crustaceans and molluscs were collected and used as research samples in many sampling points. By determining lead and cadmium content in sample using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, we carried out a safety evaluation of lead and cadmium contamination of seafood by single factor pollution index method. By calculating lead, cadmium intake of the coastal residents eating seafood, their exposure risk of lead, cadmium was assessed. It was found that, firstly, the content of lead and cadmium in mollusks was both higher than sea fish and crustaceans in the same waters. Secondly, the lead and cadmium pollution in seafood near the mouth of Pearl River was the most serious. Thirdly, lead and cadmium intakes of the coastal population eating seafood were at a basic level of security, but there were certain risks on the males less than 17 years old eating molluscs in Shenzhen Bay.     

Trace metals in surface water from the Great Barrier Reef

Filtered (0.45 μm), unacidified, surface seawater samples, collected at 3-monthly intervals for 9 months from three locations within the Great Barrier Reef Province, were analysed for zinc, copper, nickel, cadmium and lead by atomic absorption spectroscopy (air/acetylene flame) following Chelex-100 (ammonium form) extraction. Mean levels of each metal ranged from 0.03–0.35; 0.11–0.24; 0.06–0.16; <0.01–0.06; all less than 0.06 μg l⁻¹ respectively. Significant interlocational differences were observed for copper and nickel and clear temporal trends were identified for copper (location-dependent) and cadmium.     

Spatial and temporal variation in lead and cadmium in the Laughing Gull,Larus atricilla

Lead and cadmium concentrations were measured in eggs and in bone, kidney, liver and stomach contents of downy young, prefledgling, and adult Laughing Gulls collected from Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay, Texas. Matagorda Bay drains a rural, moderately industrialized region while the Galveston Bay area is heavily urbanized and industrialized. Lead levels were lower in birds from Matagorda Bay and decreased in birds from Galveston Bay between 1977 and 1980. Cadmium levels were also lower in birds from Matagorda Bay but increased over the three-year period in those from Galveston Bay. The temporal decrease in lead may be associated with such environmental control efforts as reduced point source emissions and substitution of unleaded gasoline.     

Selenium and heavy metals in black marlin

Black marlin from the apparently unpolluted waters off north-eastern Australia have the highest muscle and liver concentrations of total mercury yet reported for a teleost species. Selenium concentrations are also high. There is a significant correlation between mercury and selenium concentrations, and concentrations of both those elements are significantly correlated to size of fish. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper or arsenic are not so correlated.The results of this study indicate there is a need for a moratorium on the use of this species for human consumption.     

Levels of Cd,Cu, Pb and V in marine sediments in the vicinity of the Single Buoy Moorings (SBM3) at Mina Al Fahal in the Sultanate of Oman

Recently in the Sultanate of Oman, there has been a rapid surge of coastal developments. These developments cause metal contamination, which may affect the habitats and communities at and near the coastal region. As a result, a study was conducted to assess the level of metal contamination and its impact on the marine sediments in the vicinity of the Single Buoy Moorings 3 (SBM3) at Mina Al Fahal in the Sultanate of Oman. Marine subtidal sediment samples were collected from six different stations of the SBM3 for the period ranging from June 2009 to April 2010. These samples were then analyzed for their level and distribution of the heavy metals of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V). Overall, low concentrations of all four heavy metals were measured from the marine sediments, indicating that the marine at SBM3 is of good quality.     

Acute toxicity of cadmium to Channa punctatus (BLOCH)

Effects of acute cadmium poisoning on survival, its residual values and histopathology in certain organs of a freshwater airbreathing fish, Channa punctatus (BLOCH ) were investigated. The threshold concentration, MATC and LC₅₀ values obtained from 96 h static bioassay, revealed that Channa is more susceptible to cadmium ions at higher temperature. The atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of cadmium residues differed significantly in organs of specimens having survived and died after 96 h of exposure. The gill accumulate the highest amount of cadmium, the liver accumulated a slightly smaller amount than the gill, while the kidney accumulated the least. The histopathological lesions subjected to sublethal (5.2 mg/l Cd) and lethal (8.4 mg/l Cd) concentrations of cadmium were: detachment and rupture of lamellar epithelium, collapse of pillar cells and hypertrophy in mucus producing gland cells in the gill; vacuolization and coagulative necrosis in hepatic cells of the liver; and expansion, necrosis and accumulation of cellular debris in renal tubules of the kidney. The probable causes for death of fish due to cadmium ions have been discussed.     

Distribution of cadmium,mercury, and lead in different body parts of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis): Implications for environmental status assessments

For heavy metals, quality standards indicating good environmental status are designed to evaluate concentrations in the whole fish body, whereas monitoring of metals is often conducted using muscle or liver tissue. As most metals accumulate at different rates in different parts of fish, data should be adjusted to reflect whole fish body concentrations; however, this requires knowledge on distribution of metal concentrations within fish. Here, concentrations of cadmium, mercury, and lead were analyzed in the liver, muscle and whole fish of herring and perch to create conversion factors for transformation of heavy metal concentrations between these tissues. Species-specific accumulation of metals between muscle, liver, and whole fish were observed. Relationships between different tissues were used to recalculate data from monitoring programs in the Baltic Sea region. Based on whole fish concentrations, environmental status for cadmium and mercury in herring improved compared to assessments based on muscle or liver concentrations alone.     

Metal Concentrations in Tissues of Rabbitfish (Siganus oramin) Collected from Tolo Harbour and Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong

Rabbitfish (Siganus oramin, also known as Siganus canaliculatus) samples were collected from different coastal sites in the Victoria Harbour and Tolo Harbour in the summer of 1997 for the analyses of metal (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) concentrations in liver, gills, and muscle. The overall metal concentrations in rabbitfish tissues were below regulatory levels implemented through the government of Hong Kong. For cadmium and lead, the metal concentrations detected were place concentrations here. Generally speaking, the metal concentrations in liver samples were higher than that of gills and muscle. However, the mean values of lead concentrations of rabbitfish from the Tolo Harbour and Victoria Harbour are higher in the gills than in the livers.