Hg bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web from tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China and potential consumption advisories

Xueheng Wang; Qing Xie; Yongmin Wang; Hongjian Lü; Mei Fu; Dingyong Wang; Jiajia Li

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131902

Hg bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web from tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China and potential consumption advisories

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Sep 15:458:131902. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131902. Epub 2023 Jun 23.

Authors

Xueheng Wang¹, Qing Xie², Yongmin Wang¹, Hongjian Lü³, Mei Fu³, Dingyong Wang⁴, Jiajia Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
² Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Resources, Environment and Safety, Chongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering, Chongqing 402260, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
³ College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing 400715, China.
⁴ Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: dywang@swu.edu.cn.
⁵ Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: lijiajiacre@swu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37364435
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131902

Abstract

The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) holds the distinction of being China's largest reservoir, and the presence of pollutants in the fish from the reservoir have a direct impact on the health of local residents. Thus, 349 fish specimens of 21 species and 1 benthos (Bellamya aeruginosas) were collected from four typical tributaries of the TGR from 2019 to 2020. These specimens were analyzed for the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg), and some representative samples were tested for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values to reveal the characteristics of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The maximum safe daily consumption was estimated based on the oral reference dose (0.1 μg kg^-1 bw/day according to US-EPA, 2017). The results showed that the mean THg and MeHg concentrations in fish from the TGR tributaries were 73.18 ± 49.21 ng g^-1 and 48.42 ± 40.66 ng g^-1, respectively, with the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of THg and MeHg being 0.066 and 0.060, respectively. Among all the fish species in the tributaries, the highest daily maximum safe consumption amount was 1253.89 g for S. asotus consumed by adults, while the lowest was 62.88 g for C. nasus consumed by children.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Consumption advisories; Fish; Mercury; Tributaries of Three Gorges Reservoir.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Bioaccumulation
China
Environmental Monitoring
Fishes
Food Chain
Mercury* / analysis
Methylmercury Compounds*
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Mercury
Methylmercury Compounds