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We measured baseline levels of 19 trace element and mercury speciation for grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL), Quebec, Canada. With interest growing in commercializing grey seal products for human consumption in this region, the goal of this study was to measure essential and non-essential trace elements in grey seals to evaluate health concerns and nutritional benefits. From 2015 to 2019, 120 grey seals were sampled by hunters and researchers at 4 sites in the GSL. Muscle, liver, heart and kidney samples were analyzed for 10 non-essential elements (Sb, As, Be, B, Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Tl, Sn) and 9 essential elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn). Both total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were analysed for a subset of samples. Many elements were undetected in liver (Sb, As, Be, B, Cr, Co, Pb, Ni, Tl, Sn) and muscle tissues (same, plus Cd, Mn, Mo). Results showed lower element concentrations in the muscle (Fe, Mg, Se) and livers (Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Mo, Se) of young-of-the-year harvested in the winter (< 6 weeks old) compared to older animals feeding at sea. For older seals (~ 5 months to 29 years), we did not observe progressive age-dependent bioaccumulation. Sex-specific differences were not very pronounced, but a few elements were 30 - 70% higher in the muscle (THg, MeHg) and liver (Mn, Zn) of male seals. Comparison to Canadian dietary reference intakes shows that a weekly portion of liver from young-of-the-year (< 6 weeks old) is a good source of essential elements (Cu, Fe) and that muscle and liver from this age category does not exceed reference values for toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb, MeHg). Ongoing discussions with regional public health professionals will help to develop dietary recommendations for the consumption of older grey seals.
Gwyneth Anne MacMillan; Marc Amyot; Pierre-Yves Daoust; Melanie Lemire. Trace elements in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleGwyneth Anne MacMillan, Marc Amyot, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Melanie Lemire. Trace elements in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGwyneth Anne MacMillan; Marc Amyot; Pierre-Yves Daoust; Melanie Lemire. 2021. "Trace elements in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence." , no. : 1.
Uptake of the neurotoxicant monomethylmercury (MeHg) from fish and marine mammals continues to present a public health concern in Canada and elsewhere. However, fish and marine mammals are key diet items contributing to food security for some Indigenous populations in Canada. Mercury (Hg) exposure is estimated assuming that 100% of Hg is methylated, that 100% will be absorbed by the consumer and that cooking does not affect MeHg concentrations. Some of these assumptions do not correspond to our current state of knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of additional variables on Hg exposure equation using probabilistic risk analysis. New variables tested were (1) the proportion of methylated Hg compared to total Hg (pMeHg, %), (2) the relative absorption factor (RAF, %) expressed as bioaccessibility and (3) the mass loss factor (MLF, unitless) that represents the loss of moisture during cooking, known to increase MeHg concentration in fish and mammals. For the new variables, data from literature were used in order to set point estimate values that were further used in the probabilistic risk analysis. Modelling results for both fish and marine mammals indicate that adding these new variables significantly influenced estimates of MeHg exposure (Mood’s median test, p < 0.05). This study highlights that the evaluation of exposure to MeHg is sensitive to pMeHg, RAF and MLF, and the inclusion of these variables in risk assessment should be considered with care. Further research is needed to provide better food-dependent, population-specific estimates of RAF and MLF before formal inclusion in exposure estimates.
Tania Charette; Gregory Kaminski; Maikel Rosabal; Marc Amyot. Effects of Speciation, Cooking and Changes in Bioaccessibility on Methylmercury Exposure Assessment for Contrasting Diets of Fish and Marine Mammals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 2565 .
AMA StyleTania Charette, Gregory Kaminski, Maikel Rosabal, Marc Amyot. Effects of Speciation, Cooking and Changes in Bioaccessibility on Methylmercury Exposure Assessment for Contrasting Diets of Fish and Marine Mammals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (5):2565.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTania Charette; Gregory Kaminski; Maikel Rosabal; Marc Amyot. 2021. "Effects of Speciation, Cooking and Changes in Bioaccessibility on Methylmercury Exposure Assessment for Contrasting Diets of Fish and Marine Mammals." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 5: 2565.
Run-of-river power plants (RoRs) are expected to triple in number over the next decades in Canada. These structures are not anticipated to considerably promote the mobilization and transport of mercury (Hg) and its subsequent microbial transformation to methylmercury (MeHg), a neurotoxin able to biomagnify in food webs up to humans. To test whether construction of RoRs had an effect on Hg transport and transformation, we studied Hg and MeHg concentrations, organic matter contents and methylating microbial community abundance and composition in the sediments of a section of the St. Maurice River (Quebec, Canada). This river section has been affected by the construction of two RoR dams and its watershed has been disturbed by a forest fire, logging, and the construction of wetlands. Higher total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations were observed in the surface sediments of the flooded sites upstream of the RoRs. These peaks in THg and MeHg were correlated with organic matter proportions in the sediments (r2 = 0.87 and 0.82, respectively). In contrast, the proportion of MeHg, a proxy for methylation potential, was best explained by the carbon to nitrogen ratio suggesting the importance of terrigenous organic matter as labile substrate for Hg methylation in this system. Metagenomic analysis of Hg-methylating communities based on the hgcA functional gene marker indicated an abundance of methanogens, sulfate reducers and fermenters, suggesting that these metabolic guilds may be primary Hg methylators in these surface sediments. We propose that RoR pondages act as traps for sediments, organic matter and Hg, and that this retention can be amplified by other disturbances of the watershed such as forest fire and logging. RoR flooded sites can be conducive to Hg methylation in sediments and may act as gateways for bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MeHg along food webs, particularly in disturbed watersheds.
L. Millera Ferriz; D.E. Ponton; V. Storck; M. Leclerc; F. Bilodeau; D.A. Walsh; M. Amyot. Role of organic matter and microbial communities in mercury retention and methylation in sediments near run-of-river hydroelectric dams. Science of The Total Environment 2021, 774, 145686 .
AMA StyleL. Millera Ferriz, D.E. Ponton, V. Storck, M. Leclerc, F. Bilodeau, D.A. Walsh, M. Amyot. Role of organic matter and microbial communities in mercury retention and methylation in sediments near run-of-river hydroelectric dams. Science of The Total Environment. 2021; 774 ():145686.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Millera Ferriz; D.E. Ponton; V. Storck; M. Leclerc; F. Bilodeau; D.A. Walsh; M. Amyot. 2021. "Role of organic matter and microbial communities in mercury retention and methylation in sediments near run-of-river hydroelectric dams." Science of The Total Environment 774, no. : 145686.
Unlike large dams which favor methylation of Hg in flooded soils over long periods, run-of-river dams are designed to flood a limited area of soils and are therefore not expected to significantly affect mercury (Hg) cycling or carbon processing. We studied the Hg and carbon cycles within food webs from several sectors along the Saint-Maurice River, Quebec, Canada, that differ in how they are influenced by two run-of-river dams and other watershed disturbances. We observed peak Hg concentrations in fish five-year postimpoundment, but these levels were reduced three years after this peak. Methylmercury concentrations in low trophic level fish and invertebrates were related to their carbon source (δ13C) rather than their trophic positions (δ15N). Biomagnification, measured by trophic magnification slopes, was driven mainly by methylmercury concentrations in low-trophic level organisms and environmental factors related to organic matter degradation and Hg-methylation. River sectors, δ13C and δ15N, predicted up to 80% of the variability in food web methylmercury concentrations. The installation of run-of-river dams and the related pondages, in association with other watershed disturbances, altered carbon processing, promoted Hg-methylation and its accumulation at the base of the food web, and led to a temporary increase in Hg levels in fish.
Dominic E. Ponton; Raphaël A. Lavoie; Maxime Leclerc; François Bilodeau; Dolors Planas; Marc Amyot. Understanding Food Web Mercury Accumulation Through Trophic Transfer and Carbon Processing along a River Affected by Recent Run-of-river Dams. Environmental Science & Technology 2021, 55, 2949 -2959.
AMA StyleDominic E. Ponton, Raphaël A. Lavoie, Maxime Leclerc, François Bilodeau, Dolors Planas, Marc Amyot. Understanding Food Web Mercury Accumulation Through Trophic Transfer and Carbon Processing along a River Affected by Recent Run-of-river Dams. Environmental Science & Technology. 2021; 55 (5):2949-2959.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDominic E. Ponton; Raphaël A. Lavoie; Maxime Leclerc; François Bilodeau; Dolors Planas; Marc Amyot. 2021. "Understanding Food Web Mercury Accumulation Through Trophic Transfer and Carbon Processing along a River Affected by Recent Run-of-river Dams." Environmental Science & Technology 55, no. 5: 2949-2959.
Fish consumption is the main exposure pathway of the neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) in humans. The risk associated with exposure to MeHg may be modified by its interactions with selenium (Se) and arsenic (As). In vitro bioaccessibility studies have demonstrated that cooking the fish muscle decreases MeHg solubility markedly and, as a consequence, its potential absorption by the consumer. However, this phenomenon has yet to be validated by in vivo models. Our study aimed to test whether MeHg bioaccessibility can be used as a surrogate to assess the effect of cooking on MeHg in vivo availability. We fed pigs raw and cooked tuna meals and collected blood samples from catheters in the portal vein and carotid artery at: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420, 480 and 540 min post-meal. In contrast to in vitro models, pig oral bioavailability of MeHg was not affected by cooking, although the MeHg kinetics of absorption was faster for the cooked meal than for the raw meal. We conclude that bioaccessibility should not be readily used as a direct surrogate for in vivo studies and that, in contrast with the in vitro results, the cooking of fish muscle did not decrease the exposure of the consumer to MeHg.
Tania Charette; Danyel Bueno Dalto; Maikel Rosabal; J. Matte; Marc Amyot. Assessment of In Vitro Bioaccessibility and In Vivo Oral Bioavailability as Complementary Tools to Better Understand the Effect of Cooking on Methylmercury, Arsenic, and Selenium in Tuna. Toxics 2021, 9, 27 .
AMA StyleTania Charette, Danyel Bueno Dalto, Maikel Rosabal, J. Matte, Marc Amyot. Assessment of In Vitro Bioaccessibility and In Vivo Oral Bioavailability as Complementary Tools to Better Understand the Effect of Cooking on Methylmercury, Arsenic, and Selenium in Tuna. Toxics. 2021; 9 (2):27.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTania Charette; Danyel Bueno Dalto; Maikel Rosabal; J. Matte; Marc Amyot. 2021. "Assessment of In Vitro Bioaccessibility and In Vivo Oral Bioavailability as Complementary Tools to Better Understand the Effect of Cooking on Methylmercury, Arsenic, and Selenium in Tuna." Toxics 9, no. 2: 27.
Current guidelines tend to limit fish consumption based on mercury (Hg) or monomethylmercury (MeHg) content in fish flesh, without considering the presence of antagonist chemical elements that could modulate Hg toxicity. However, it is difficult to assess the potential for antagonistic interactions of these elements since their covariation within muscle tissues is poorly known. Here we present the first study simultaneously mapping multiple metal(oid)s (Hg, As and Se), lipids and proteins in fish fillets in order to assess the magnitude of intra-organ variability of metals and the potential for antagonistic interactions. We mapped two fish species (Striped Bass and Northern Pike) with contrasting muscular structure with respect to the presence of white, intermediate and red muscles. In individual Striped Bass muscle tissues, metals varied on average by 2.2-fold. Methylmercury and selenium covaried strongly and were related to protein content as assessed by % N; arsenic was inversely related to these elements and was associated with the lipid fraction of the muscle. In Pike, no such relationship was found because the contents in proteins and lipids were less variable. Arsenic speciation revealed that arsenobetaine and arsenolipids were the only As species in those fish species, whereas the toxic inorganic As species (As3+) was under the detection limit. Arsenobetaine was related to % N, whereas arsenolipids covaried with % lipids. Elemental associations found with muscle lipids and proteins could help explain changes in bioaccumulation patterns within and between individuals with potential implications on fish toxicology, biomonitoring and human consumption guidelines.
Tania Charette; Maikel Rosabal; Marc Amyot. Mapping metal (Hg, As, Se), lipid and protein levels within fish muscular system in two fish species (Striped Bass and Northern Pike). Chemosphere 2020, 265, 129036 .
AMA StyleTania Charette, Maikel Rosabal, Marc Amyot. Mapping metal (Hg, As, Se), lipid and protein levels within fish muscular system in two fish species (Striped Bass and Northern Pike). Chemosphere. 2020; 265 ():129036.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTania Charette; Maikel Rosabal; Marc Amyot. 2020. "Mapping metal (Hg, As, Se), lipid and protein levels within fish muscular system in two fish species (Striped Bass and Northern Pike)." Chemosphere 265, no. : 129036.
Diet, age, and growth rate influences on fish mercury concentrations were investigated for Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in lakes of the eastern Canadian Arctic. We hypothesized that faster-growing fish have lower mercury concentrations because of growth dilution, a process whereby more efficient growth dilutes a fish’s mercury burden. Using datasets of 57 brook trout and 133 Arctic char, linear regression modelling showed fish age and diet indices were the dominant explanatory variables of muscle mercury concentrations for both species. Faster-growing fish (based on length-at-age) fed at a higher trophic position, and as a result, their mercury concentrations were not lower than slower-growing fish. Muscle RNA/DNA ratios were used as a physiological indicator of short-term growth rate (days to weeks). Slower growth of Arctic char, inferred from RNA/DNA ratios, was found in winter versus summer and in polar desert versus tundra lakes, but RNA/DNA ratio was (at best) a weak predictor of fish mercury concentration. Net effects of diet and age on mercury concentration were greater than any potential offset by biomass dilution in faster-growing fish. In these resource-poor Arctic lakes, faster growth was associated with feeding at a higher trophic position, likely due to greater caloric (and mercury) intake, rather than growth efficiency.
John Chételat; Yueting Shao; Murray C. Richardson; Gwyneth A. MacMillan; Marc Amyot; Paul E. Drevnick; Hardeep Gill; Günter Köck; Derek C.G. Muir. Diet influences on growth and mercury concentrations of two salmonid species from lakes in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Environmental Pollution 2020, 268, 115820 .
AMA StyleJohn Chételat, Yueting Shao, Murray C. Richardson, Gwyneth A. MacMillan, Marc Amyot, Paul E. Drevnick, Hardeep Gill, Günter Köck, Derek C.G. Muir. Diet influences on growth and mercury concentrations of two salmonid species from lakes in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Environmental Pollution. 2020; 268 ():115820.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Chételat; Yueting Shao; Murray C. Richardson; Gwyneth A. MacMillan; Marc Amyot; Paul E. Drevnick; Hardeep Gill; Günter Köck; Derek C.G. Muir. 2020. "Diet influences on growth and mercury concentrations of two salmonid species from lakes in the eastern Canadian Arctic." Environmental Pollution 268, no. : 115820.
Reservoirs are known to accelerate the mobilization and cycling of mercury and carbon as a result of flooding of terrestrial organic matter, which can lead to environmental concerns at local and broader spatial scales. We explored the covariation of mercury (Hg) and carbon (C) functional pools in natural and recently dammed portions of the aquatic network of the Romaine River watershed in Northern Quebec, Canada, to understand how the fate of these elements varies across systems with contrasting hydrology and environmental conditions. We found that total Hg (THg) concentrations in surface waters were relatively constant along the network, whereas both the concentrations and proportions of MeHg tended to increase in reservoirs compared to surrounding non‐flooded systems, and along the cascade of reservoirs. Whereas THg was related to total and terrestrial pools of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), MeHg was weakly related to DOC but strongly linked to surface concentrations of CO2, as well as to concentrations of iron and manganese. The latter are proxies of cumulative organic matter processing within the network, presumably in anoxic portions of shallow bays, deep reservoir waters and river sediments, as well as in prior seasons (e.g. under ice). Our results suggest that these deep boreal reservoirs acted more as transformation sites for Hg that was already present than as mobilizers of new Hg, and that under ice metabolism plays a role in MeHg production in these systems as we found strong dichotomies in MeHg patterns between spring and summer.
Jeremy De Bonville; Marc Amyot; Paul Del Giorgio; Alain Tremblay; François Bilodeau; Dominic E. Ponton; Jean‐François Lapierre. Mobilization and Transformation of Mercury Across a Dammed Boreal River Are Linked to Carbon Processing and Hydrology. Water Resources Research 2020, 56, 1 .
AMA StyleJeremy De Bonville, Marc Amyot, Paul Del Giorgio, Alain Tremblay, François Bilodeau, Dominic E. Ponton, Jean‐François Lapierre. Mobilization and Transformation of Mercury Across a Dammed Boreal River Are Linked to Carbon Processing and Hydrology. Water Resources Research. 2020; 56 (10):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJeremy De Bonville; Marc Amyot; Paul Del Giorgio; Alain Tremblay; François Bilodeau; Dominic E. Ponton; Jean‐François Lapierre. 2020. "Mobilization and Transformation of Mercury Across a Dammed Boreal River Are Linked to Carbon Processing and Hydrology." Water Resources Research 56, no. 10: 1.
Surface water mercury (Hg) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and their ratios, which play a critical role in food chain bioaccumulation of Hg, were examined in lakes from southern boreal, sub‐Arctic taiga, Arctic tundra and polar desert landscapes of eastern and northern Canada. The study sites investigated span a 30° latitudinal gradient representing differences in climate, ecosystem productivity, and atmospheric mercury deposition. Lakes were selected to obtain a range of simple morphometrics such as area, depth, volume and catchment area, with corresponding differences in water residence times (WRT), ranging from 0.1 to 7.5 years. Total mercury (THg) and mono‐methylmercury (MMHg) concentrations correlated positively but weakly with DOC in lake surface waters along the climate gradient, consistent with lower ecosystem and organic matter productivity at higher latitudes. Specific UV absorbance, an indicator of terrestrial organic matter sources, was found to explain some residual variability in THg not explained by DOC. Concentrations of THg and MMHg and their ratios with DOC, particularly the MMHg : DOC ratio as well as %MMHg, were best explained by inverse associations with WRT. These relationships were apparent both within and between regions along the latitudinal gradient, suggesting a net‐negative effect of in‐lake processing on THg and MMHg concentrations associated with longer WRTs. Since the water MMHg : DOC ratio was previously shown to explain foodweb MMHg in the same study lakes, our results suggest that smaller lakes with shorter residence times are more susceptible to MMHg exposure even at low levels of inorganic Hg loading or MMHg production.
Murray Richardson; John Chételat; Gwyneth A. MacMillan; Marc Amyot. Mercury concentrations and associations with dissolved organic matter are modified by water residence time in eastern Canadian lakes along a 30° latitudinal gradient. Limnology and Oceanography 2020, 66, 1 .
AMA StyleMurray Richardson, John Chételat, Gwyneth A. MacMillan, Marc Amyot. Mercury concentrations and associations with dissolved organic matter are modified by water residence time in eastern Canadian lakes along a 30° latitudinal gradient. Limnology and Oceanography. 2020; 66 (S1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMurray Richardson; John Chételat; Gwyneth A. MacMillan; Marc Amyot. 2020. "Mercury concentrations and associations with dissolved organic matter are modified by water residence time in eastern Canadian lakes along a 30° latitudinal gradient." Limnology and Oceanography 66, no. S1: 1.
The seasonal development of an ice cover is a characteristic feature of subarctic lakes, yet the biogeochemical cycling of redox sensitive elements under ice, including arsenic (As), is poorly understood. We conducted comprehensive geochemical characterization of lake waters, sediment pore waters and lake sediments over two consecutive years to develop a conceptual model of As, iron (Fe), and sulfur (S) dynamics under ice in a shallow subarctic lake (mean depth 2.0 m) impacted by more than 60 yr of As pollution from local gold mining emissions. Lake sediments were a source of As to overlying waters during both winters when oxygen was depleted from interfacial sediments through the reductive dissolution of As‐bearing Fe (oxy)hydroxides, but the influence on lake water chemistry was distinctly different between years and dependent on winter hydrology of the lake. When the lake was hydrologically disconnected from the upstream watershed, anoxia developed through the entire water column and high concentrations of As (> 100 μ g L−1) and Fe (> 1000 μ g L−1) were measured in lake water. During the second winter, open‐water flow persisted at the lake inlet, which replenished dissolved oxygen in the under‐ice water column, suppressed the upward migration of the Fe and SO4 redox boundaries, and limited sediment As efflux. These findings demonstrate how changing hydrology, specifically ice cover duration, and hydrological connectivity can influence the winter cycling of As, Fe, and S in shallow subarctic lakes.
Michael J. Palmer; John Chételat; Heather E. Jamieson; Murray Richardson; Marc Amyot. Hydrologic control on winter dissolved oxygen mediates arsenic cycling in a small subarctic lake. Limnology and Oceanography 2020, 66, 1 .
AMA StyleMichael J. Palmer, John Chételat, Heather E. Jamieson, Murray Richardson, Marc Amyot. Hydrologic control on winter dissolved oxygen mediates arsenic cycling in a small subarctic lake. Limnology and Oceanography. 2020; 66 (S1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichael J. Palmer; John Chételat; Heather E. Jamieson; Murray Richardson; Marc Amyot. 2020. "Hydrologic control on winter dissolved oxygen mediates arsenic cycling in a small subarctic lake." Limnology and Oceanography 66, no. S1: 1.
Selenium (Se) uptake by primary producers is the most variable and important step in determining Se concentrations at higher trophic levels in aquatic food webs. We gathered data available about the Se bioaccumulation at the base of aquatic food webs and analyzed its relationship with Se concentrations in water. This important dataset was separated into lotic and lentic systems to provide a reliable model to estimate Se in primary producers from aqueous exposure. We observed that lentic systems had higher organic selenium and selenite concentrations than in lotic systems and selenate concentrations were higher in lotic environments. Selenium uptake by algae is mostly driven by Se concentrations, speciation and competition with other anions, and is as well influenced by pH. Based on Se species uptake by algae in the laboratory, we proposed an accurate mechanistic model of competition between sulfate and inorganic Se species at algal uptake sites. Intracellular Se transformations and incorporation into selenoproteins as well as the mechanisms through which Se can induce toxicity in algae has also been reviewed. We provided a new tool for risk assessment strategies to better predict accumulation in primary consumers and consequently to higher trophic levels, and we identified some research needs that could fill knowledge gaps.
Dominic E. Ponton; Stephanie D. Graves; Claude Fortin; David Janz; Marc Amyot; Michela Schiavon. Selenium Interactions with Algae: Chemical Processes at Biological Uptake Sites, Bioaccumulation, and Intracellular Metabolism. Plants 2020, 9, 528 .
AMA StyleDominic E. Ponton, Stephanie D. Graves, Claude Fortin, David Janz, Marc Amyot, Michela Schiavon. Selenium Interactions with Algae: Chemical Processes at Biological Uptake Sites, Bioaccumulation, and Intracellular Metabolism. Plants. 2020; 9 (4):528.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDominic E. Ponton; Stephanie D. Graves; Claude Fortin; David Janz; Marc Amyot; Michela Schiavon. 2020. "Selenium Interactions with Algae: Chemical Processes at Biological Uptake Sites, Bioaccumulation, and Intracellular Metabolism." Plants 9, no. 4: 528.
In recent decades, mercury concentrations have increased in fish of Great Slave Lake (GSL), a subarctic great lake in northern Canada with important recreational, subsistence, and commercial fisheries. This study characterized habitat use and trophic position of common fish species in GSL near the City of Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada), measured mercury concentrations in water and in taxa from lower trophic levels of the food web, and examined trophic and biological influences on mercury concentrations within and among fish species. Northern pike (Exos lucius) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeformis) fed predominantly nearshore, cisco (Coregonus artedi) and longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) fed predominantly offshore, and burbot (Lota lota) fed roughly equally in both habitats. Habitat-specific feeding did not influence mercury bioaccumulation in fish, in contrast with published studies of smaller lakes. Water concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury were low and showed little spatial variation among sites or depths. Zooplankton (>200 μm) had similarly low methylmercury concentrations as littoral and profundal amphipods, suggesting little habitat-variation of mercury exposure near the base of the food web. Age, size, and trophic position were significant explanatory variables for muscle total mercury concentrations within populations of fish species. Among fish species, size and trophic position explained 80% of the variation in muscle total mercury concentrations. This study generated the most comprehensive dataset to date on mercury bioaccumulation in the food web of GSL, which will serve as a baseline for future studies of this great lake.
Jillian Rohonczy; Peter A. Cott; Amanda Benwell; Mark R. Forbes; Stacey A. Robinson; Maikel Rosabal; Marc Amyot; John Chételat. Trophic structure and mercury transfer in the subarctic fish community of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. Journal of Great Lakes Research 2019, 46, 402 -413.
AMA StyleJillian Rohonczy, Peter A. Cott, Amanda Benwell, Mark R. Forbes, Stacey A. Robinson, Maikel Rosabal, Marc Amyot, John Chételat. Trophic structure and mercury transfer in the subarctic fish community of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 2019; 46 (2):402-413.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJillian Rohonczy; Peter A. Cott; Amanda Benwell; Mark R. Forbes; Stacey A. Robinson; Maikel Rosabal; Marc Amyot; John Chételat. 2019. "Trophic structure and mercury transfer in the subarctic fish community of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada." Journal of Great Lakes Research 46, no. 2: 402-413.
Our knowledge of the processes leading to the bioaccumulation of rare earth elements (REE) in aquatic biota is limited. As the contamination of freshwater ecosystems by anthropogenic REE have recently been reported, it becomes increasingly urgent to understand how these metals are transferred to freshwater organisms in order to develop appropriate guidelines. We exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to an REE, yttrium (Y), to either a range of Y-contaminated prey (Daphnia magna) or a range of Y-contaminated water. For the feeding experiment, the relationship between the Y assimilation by O. mykiss and the Y subcellular fractionation in D. magna was evaluated. Assimilation efficiency of Y by O. mykiss was low, ranging from 0.8 to 3%. These values were close to the proportion of Y accumulated in D. magna cytosol, 0.6–2%, a theoretical trophically available fraction. Moreover, under our laboratory conditions, water appeared as a poor source of Y transfer to O. mykiss. Regardless of the source of contamination, a similar pattern of Y bioaccumulation among O. mykiss tissues was revealed: muscles < liver < gills < intestine. We conclude that the trophic transfer potential of Y is low and the evaluation of Y burden in prey cytosol appears to be a relevant predictor of Y assimilation by their consumers.
Pierre-Yves Cardon; Olivier Roques; Antoine Caron; Maikel Rosabal; Claude Fortin; Marc Amyot. Role of prey subcellular distribution on the bioaccumulation of yttrium (Y) in the rainbow trout. Environmental Pollution 2019, 258, 113804 .
AMA StylePierre-Yves Cardon, Olivier Roques, Antoine Caron, Maikel Rosabal, Claude Fortin, Marc Amyot. Role of prey subcellular distribution on the bioaccumulation of yttrium (Y) in the rainbow trout. Environmental Pollution. 2019; 258 ():113804.
Chicago/Turabian StylePierre-Yves Cardon; Olivier Roques; Antoine Caron; Maikel Rosabal; Claude Fortin; Marc Amyot. 2019. "Role of prey subcellular distribution on the bioaccumulation of yttrium (Y) in the rainbow trout." Environmental Pollution 258, no. : 113804.
Whereas early life stages are usually considered as particularly sensitive to both organic and inorganic contaminants, field studies assessing contaminant bioaccumulation in these stages are scarce. Selenium (Se) is thought to counteract Hg toxic effects when it is found at Se:Hg molar ratios above 1. However, the variation of this ratio in key fish tissues of different early life stages is mostly unknown. The present study therefore aimed to assess Hg and Se content in gravid female tissues (gonads, muscle, liver, gut, and brain) and different life stages (egg masses, newly hatched larvae (NHL), larvae and juvenile) of Yellow Perch (YP) in a large fluvial lake (Lake Saint-Pierre, Québec, Canada). Se:Hg molar ratios were measured for each compartment in order to fill associated knowledge gaps. Total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentration varied between tissue according to the following trend: Muscle > Liver > Gut > Brain > Gonads. During YP early life stages, MeHg values increased according to an ontogenetic pattern (mg/kg dw) (mean ± SEM): Egg masses (0.01 ± 0.002) < NHL (0.015 ± 0.001) < Larvae (0.14 ± 0.01) < Juveniles (0.18 ± 0.01). Se concentrations in different YP tissues showed the following trend (mg/kg dw) (mean ± SEM): Gut (3.6 ± 0.1) > Liver (2.5 ± 0.1) > Gonads (1.92 ± 0.06) > Brain (1.26 ± 0.03) > Muscle (1.23 ± 0.06). In YP early life stages, Se concentrations were highest in NHL (3.0 ± 0.2), and then decreased as follows: Egg masses (2.8 ± 0.1) > Larvae (1.37 ± 0.04) > Juveniles (0.93 ± 0.05). Se:Hg molar ratios varied considerably and were systematically above 1. This is the first study to simultaneously report Hg and Se bioaccumulation through fish life cycle.
Melissa Khadra; Dolors Planas; Philippe Brodeur; Marc Amyot. Mercury and selenium distribution in key tissues and early life stages of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens). Environmental Pollution 2019, 254, 112963 .
AMA StyleMelissa Khadra, Dolors Planas, Philippe Brodeur, Marc Amyot. Mercury and selenium distribution in key tissues and early life stages of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens). Environmental Pollution. 2019; 254 ():112963.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMelissa Khadra; Dolors Planas; Philippe Brodeur; Marc Amyot. 2019. "Mercury and selenium distribution in key tissues and early life stages of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)." Environmental Pollution 254, no. : 112963.
A subarctic fish community in mine-impacted Yellowknife Bay (Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada) was investigated for biological and ecological processes controlling arsenic bioaccumulation. Total concentrations of arsenic, antimony, and metals were measured in over 400 fishes representing 13 species, and primary producers and consumers were included to characterize food web transfer. Yellowknife Bay had slightly more arsenic in surface waters (~3 μg/L) relative to the main body of Great Slave Lake (<1 μg/L), resulting in two-fold higher total arsenic concentrations in muscle of burbot (Lota lota), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), and northern pike (Esox lucius). Other mining-associated contaminants, specifically antimony, lead, and silver, were typically below analytical detection in those fish species. No evidence was found for enhanced bioaccumulation of arsenic in long-lived, slow-growing subarctic fishes. Food web biodilution of total arsenic occurred between primary producers, aquatic invertebrates, and fish, although trophic position did not explain arsenic concentrations among fishes. Pelagic-feeding species had higher total arsenic concentrations compared to littoral fishes. Arsenic accumulated in subarctic fishes to comparable levels as fishes from lakes around the world with similar water arsenic concentrations. This first comprehensive study for a subarctic freshwater food web identified the importance of water exposure, biodilution, and habitat-specific feeding on arsenic bioaccumulation.
John Chételat; Peter A. Cott; Maikel Rosabal; Adam Houben; Christine McClelland; Elise Belle Rose; Marc Amyot. Arsenic bioaccumulation in subarctic fishes of a mine-impacted bay on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. PLOS ONE 2019, 14, e0221361 .
AMA StyleJohn Chételat, Peter A. Cott, Maikel Rosabal, Adam Houben, Christine McClelland, Elise Belle Rose, Marc Amyot. Arsenic bioaccumulation in subarctic fishes of a mine-impacted bay on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. PLOS ONE. 2019; 14 (8):e0221361.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Chételat; Peter A. Cott; Maikel Rosabal; Adam Houben; Christine McClelland; Elise Belle Rose; Marc Amyot. 2019. "Arsenic bioaccumulation in subarctic fishes of a mine-impacted bay on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada." PLOS ONE 14, no. 8: e0221361.
The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has increased since the 1990s leading to the development of many mining projects worldwide. However, less is known about how organisms can handle these metals in natural aquatic systems. Through laboratory experiments, we assessed the chronic toxicity and subcellular fractionation of yttrium (Y), one of the four most abundant REEs, in three freshwater organisms commonly used in aquatic toxicology: Daphnia magna, Chironomus riparius, and Oncorhynchus mykiss. In bioassays using growth as an end point, C. riparius was the only organism showing toxicity at Y exposure concentrations close to environmental ones. The lowest observable effect concentrations (LOECs) of Y assessed for D. magna and O. mykiss were at least 100 times higher than the Y concentration in natural freshwater. A negative correlation between Y toxicity and water hardness was observed for D. magna. When exposed to their respective estimated LOECs, D. magna bioaccumulated 15-45 times more Y than the other two organisms exposed to their own LOECs. This former species sequestered up to 75% of Y in the NaOH-resistant fraction, a putative metal-detoxified subcellular fraction. To a lesser extent, C. riparius bioaccumulated 20-30% of Y in this detoxified fraction. In contrast, the Y subcellular distribution in O. mykiss liver did not highlight any notable detoxification strategy; Y was accumulated primarily in mitochondria (ca. 32%), a putative metal-sensitive fraction. This fraction was also the main sensitive fraction where Y accumulated in C. riparius and D. magna. Hence, the interaction of Y with mitochondria could explain its toxicity. In conclusion, there is a wide range of subcellular handling strategies for Y, with D. magna accumulating high quantities but sequestering most of it in detoxified fractions, whereas O. mykiss tending to accumulate less Y but in highly sensitive fractions.
Pierre-Yves Cardon; Gaëlle Triffault-Bouchet; Antoine Caron; Maikel Rosabal; Claude Fortin; Marc Amyot. Toxicity and Subcellular Fractionation of Yttrium in Three Freshwater Organisms: Daphnia magna, Chironomus riparius, and Oncorhynchus mykiss. ACS Omega 2019, 4, 13747 -13755.
AMA StylePierre-Yves Cardon, Gaëlle Triffault-Bouchet, Antoine Caron, Maikel Rosabal, Claude Fortin, Marc Amyot. Toxicity and Subcellular Fractionation of Yttrium in Three Freshwater Organisms: Daphnia magna, Chironomus riparius, and Oncorhynchus mykiss. ACS Omega. 2019; 4 (9):13747-13755.
Chicago/Turabian StylePierre-Yves Cardon; Gaëlle Triffault-Bouchet; Antoine Caron; Maikel Rosabal; Claude Fortin; Marc Amyot. 2019. "Toxicity and Subcellular Fractionation of Yttrium in Three Freshwater Organisms: Daphnia magna, Chironomus riparius, and Oncorhynchus mykiss." ACS Omega 4, no. 9: 13747-13755.
Soil remediation industries continue to seek technologies to speed-up treatment and reduce operating costs. Some processes are energy intensive and, in some cases, transport can be the main source of carbon emissions. Residual fertilizing materials (RFM), such as organic residues, have the potential to be beneficial bioremediation agents. Following a circular economy framework, we investigated the feasibility of sourcing RFMs locally to reduce transport and assess possible bioremediation efficiency gains. RFMs were recruited within 100 km of the treatment site: ramial chipped wood (RCW), horse manure (MANR) and brewer spent grain (BSG). They were added to the land treatment unit’s baseline fertilizer treatment (FERT, “F”) to measure if they improved the remediation efficiency of an engine oil-contaminated soil (7,500 ± 100 mg kg−1). Results indicate that MANR-F was the only amendment more effective than FERT for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) reduction, while emitting the least CO2overall. RCW-F was equivalent to FERT but retained more moisture. Although BSG contributed the most nitrogen to the soil, BSG-F retained excessive moisture, emitted more volatile organic compounds, contained less soil O2, and was less effective than the baseline treatment. Significantly more of the C16–C22fraction was removed (63% ± 22%) than all other fractions (C22–C28, C28–C34, C34–C40), which were equally removed. Microbial community-level physiological profiling was conducted with Biolog Ecoplates™, and catabolic diversity differed between treatments (utilization rates of 31 carbon sources). MANR-F has the potential to increase PHC-remediation speed and efficiency compared to inorganic fertilizer alone. Other RFM promote moisture retention and diverse microbial catabolic activity. A variety of RFM are present across the globe and some can offer low-cost amendments to boost remediation efficiency, while reducing treatment time compared to traditional fertilizer-only methods.
Kawina Robichaud; Miriam Lebeau; Sylvain Martineau; Marc Amyot. Bioremediation of engine-oil contaminated soil using local residual organic matter. PeerJ 2019, 7, e7389 .
AMA StyleKawina Robichaud, Miriam Lebeau, Sylvain Martineau, Marc Amyot. Bioremediation of engine-oil contaminated soil using local residual organic matter. PeerJ. 2019; 7 ():e7389.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKawina Robichaud; Miriam Lebeau; Sylvain Martineau; Marc Amyot. 2019. "Bioremediation of engine-oil contaminated soil using local residual organic matter." PeerJ 7, no. : e7389.
In freshwater ecosystems, several studies have shown a strong linear relationship between total mercury (THg) or methylmercury (MeHg) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Variations in this linear relationship have been reported, but the magnitude and causes of this variation are not well known. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta‐analysis to quantify and understand the global variation of this mercury (Hg)–DOC association. This meta‐analysis included 54 studies in lentic and lotic ecosystems for a total of 85 THg–DOC and 59 MeHg–DOC relationships. There was an increase in Hg with DOC concentrations in water with a global average slope of 0.25 (confidence interval (CI): 0.20–0.35) ng/mg for THg and 0.029 (CI: 0.014–0.044) ng/mg for MeHg. Relationships were stronger for (1) North American studies; (2) natural environments compared to those disturbed by anthropogenic activities; (3) spatial studies compared to temporal studies; (4) filtered samples (THg only); and (5) the aromatic fraction of DOC compared to the bulk DOC. Coupling with DOC was stronger for THg than for MeHg. Ecosystem type (lentic vs. lotic), geographical coordinates, and publication year did not influence the strength of relationships. Overall we show that there is a strong but variable coupling between carbon and mercury cycles in freshwater ecosystems globally and that this link is modulated regionally by geographic location, temporal scale, and human activity, with implications for understanding these rapidly changing biogeochemical processes in response to global change.
Raphael A. Lavoie; Marc Amyot; Jean‐François Lapierre. Global Meta‐Analysis on the Relationship Between Mercury and Dissolved Organic Carbon in Freshwater Environments. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 2019, 124, 1508 -1523.
AMA StyleRaphael A. Lavoie, Marc Amyot, Jean‐François Lapierre. Global Meta‐Analysis on the Relationship Between Mercury and Dissolved Organic Carbon in Freshwater Environments. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 2019; 124 (6):1508-1523.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaphael A. Lavoie; Marc Amyot; Jean‐François Lapierre. 2019. "Global Meta‐Analysis on the Relationship Between Mercury and Dissolved Organic Carbon in Freshwater Environments." Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 124, no. 6: 1508-1523.
The herbicide atrazine remains in use in Canada, the United States, and several other countries, while being banned since 2003 in the European Union. A comprehensive quality survey of atrazine (ATZ) and one of its metabolites, desethylatrazine (DEA), was conducted in 2015-2018 in drinking water available to consumers in Quebec, Canada. Temporal variations of ATZ and DEA were monitored in tap water from the Montreal area for 18 consecutive months (Temporal survey 2015-2016). Within this time window, the sum of ATZ and DEA in tap water samples (n = 450) varied from 40 to 250 ng L-1 (median: 98 ng L-1). ATZ was systematically detected (100%), with a concentration range of 30-195 ng L-1 (median: 49 ng L-1) while DEA was in the range of 10-187 ng L-1 (median: 36 ng L-1). Maximum ATZ concentrations remained about 25× lower than the Canadian drinking water quality guideline (5000 ng L-1), but 48% of the samples were above that of the European Union (100 ng L-1) regarding the sum of ATZ and DEA. Trends of ATZ and DEA in drinking water were also examined across southwestern Quebec (Spatial survey 2017-2018). The sum of the two triazines in this second set of samples varied from below the method detection limit (for 33 out of the 52 surveyed municipalities) to 104 ng L-1. Apart from Montreal, locations in the southern shore of the St. Lawrence showed generally higher levels of atrazine and DEA. The highest concentrations clustered in the Montérégie region, along the St. Lawrence River (e.g., Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Constant) and/or downstream from agricultural areas. The ATZ concentrations are suggested to have decreased compared to previous surveys, which is consistent with the decrease in the sales of active ingredients in Ontario (upstream sources) and Quebec.
Juan Manuel Montiel León; Sung Vo Duy; Gabriel Munoz; Maryse F. Bouchard; Marc Amyot; Sébastien Sauvé. Quality survey and spatiotemporal variations of atrazine and desethylatrazine in drinking water in Quebec, Canada. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 671, 578 -585.
AMA StyleJuan Manuel Montiel León, Sung Vo Duy, Gabriel Munoz, Maryse F. Bouchard, Marc Amyot, Sébastien Sauvé. Quality survey and spatiotemporal variations of atrazine and desethylatrazine in drinking water in Quebec, Canada. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 671 ():578-585.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJuan Manuel Montiel León; Sung Vo Duy; Gabriel Munoz; Maryse F. Bouchard; Marc Amyot; Sébastien Sauvé. 2019. "Quality survey and spatiotemporal variations of atrazine and desethylatrazine in drinking water in Quebec, Canada." Science of The Total Environment 671, no. : 578-585.
The Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, is an important source of atmospheric pollutants, such as aerosols, that have repercussions on both the climate and human health. We show that the mean freezing temperature of snow-borne particles from AOSR was elevated (−7.1 ± 1.8 °C), higher than mineral dust which freezes at ∼ −15 °C and is recognized as one of the most relevant ice nuclei globally. Ice nucleation of nanosized snow samples indicated an elevated freezing ability (−11.6 ± 2.0 °C), which was statistically much higher than snow-borne particles from downtown Montreal. AOSR snow had a higher concentration (∼2 orders of magnitude) of >100 nm particles than Montreal. Triple quadrupole ICP-(QQQ)-MS/MS analysis of AOSR and Montreal snow demonstrated that most concentrations of metals, including those identified as emerging nanoparticulate contaminants, were much more elevated in AOSR in contrast to Montreal: 34.1, 34.1, 16.6, 5.8, 0.3, 0.1, and 9.4 mg/m3 for Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Cd, and Pb respectively, in AOSR and 1.3, 0.3, 2.0, <0.03, 0.1, 0.03, and 1.2 mg/m3 in Montreal snow. High-resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy/Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) imaging provided evidence for various anthropogenic nano-materials, including carbon nanotubes resembling structures, in AOSR snow up to 7–25 km away from major oil sands upgrading facilities. In summary, particles characterized as coming from oil sands are more efficient at ice nucleation. We discuss the potential impacts of AOSR emissions on atmospheric and microphysical processes (ice nucleation and precipitation) both locally and regionally.
Rodrigo B. Rangel-Alvarado; Chelsea E. Willis; Jane L. Kirk; Vincent L. St Louis; Marc Amyot; Dominic Bélanger; Parisa A. Ariya. Athabasca oil sands region snow contains efficient micron and nano-sized ice nucleating particles. Environmental Pollution 2019, 252, 289 -295.
AMA StyleRodrigo B. Rangel-Alvarado, Chelsea E. Willis, Jane L. Kirk, Vincent L. St Louis, Marc Amyot, Dominic Bélanger, Parisa A. Ariya. Athabasca oil sands region snow contains efficient micron and nano-sized ice nucleating particles. Environmental Pollution. 2019; 252 ():289-295.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRodrigo B. Rangel-Alvarado; Chelsea E. Willis; Jane L. Kirk; Vincent L. St Louis; Marc Amyot; Dominic Bélanger; Parisa A. Ariya. 2019. "Athabasca oil sands region snow contains efficient micron and nano-sized ice nucleating particles." Environmental Pollution 252, no. : 289-295.