Methylmercury Content of Eggs in Yellow Perch Related to Maternal Exposure in Four Wisconsin Lakes

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• 作者：Chad R. Hammerschmidt ; James G. Wiener ; Bradley E. Frazier ; and Ronald G. Rada
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：1999
• 出版时间：April 1, 1999
• 年：1999
• 卷：33
• 期：7
• 页码：999 - 1003
• 全文大小：64K
• 年卷期：v.33,no.7(April 1, 1999)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

We examined the influence of maternal mercury andselected lacustrine variables on the mercury content ofeggs from yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Total mercury,methylmercury, and inorganic mercury were determinedin eggs and carcasses (less eggs) from three seepage lakeswith a pH range of 6.1-7.0 and a fourth lake in whichpH was experimentally increased from 5.5 to 6.8 by additionof alkaline groundwater. The concentration of totalmercury in eggs was strongly correlated with that in thematernal carcass. Concentrations and burdens of mercuryin eggs and carcasses were inversely correlated withlake water pH, acid-neutralizing capacity, calcium, anddissolved organic carbon. In eggs containing more than 30ng/g dry weight (4.5 ng/g wet weight) of total mercury,methylmercury averaged 91% of total mercury and rangedfrom 85% to 96%. Mean burdens of total mercury inindividual eggs varied greatly among lakes (range, 2.3-63pg), and the egg mass averaged 1.9% of the whole-bodyburden. We conclude that exposure of the developing yellowperch embryo to methylmercury is strongly affected bymaternal bioaccumulation, which can vary substantiallyamong and within lakes; however, the toxicologicalsignificance of the observed exposure of embryos tomethylmercury is unclear.