{
"@context": "http://schema.org/", "@type": "WebPage", "additionalType": "Research", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/programs/environmental-health-program/science/bioaccumulation-mercury-fish-varied-species-and", "headline": "Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Fish Varied by Species and Location in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed\u2014Summary of Existing Data and a Roadmap for Integrated Monitoring", "datePublished": "April 15, 2021", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Collin Eagles-Smith", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/collin-eagles-smith", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0003-1329-5285" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "James J Willacker, Jr.", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/james-j-willacker", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0002-6286-5224" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vicki S. Blazer", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/vicki-s-blazer", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0001-6647-9614" } } ], "description": [ { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "The study findings highlight that mercury concentrations in fish were variable across areas and among species within the freshwater portions of the watershed (landlocked individuals not migratory estuarine individuals). These results indicate that local variation in sources, environmental conditions, and species ecology contributes to mercury accumulation across the watershed." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists compiled fish mercury data from State monitoring programs and recent research efforts into an integrated dataset for the freshwater habitats across the watershed. The dataset consisted of nearly 8,000 mercury measurements in fish tissue from 600 locations, which were collected between 1990 and 2017 in freshwater portions of the watershed. The study did not include mercury concentrations in fish from tidal waters. Using these data, scientists provided a comprehensive overview of the variation in fish mercury concentrations among 61 fish species and two freshwater habitats (rivers and streams; ponds and lakes) across the watershed and put those data into context with existing benchmarks of health impairment to humans, wildlife, and fish." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Implications and Next Steps. One of the benefits of this study is the understanding it provides of mercury bioaccumulation across numerous fish species and habitats within the watershed. An additional benefit could, in the future, be the ability to answer broader questions about factors driving mercury bioaccumulation in fish. In this context, the authors provide a roadmap for an integrated monitoring program that could allow agencies to meet their current goals while also providing the ability to answer broader questions to streamline additional mitigation actions if needed to minimize exposures and health risks." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "The USGS has prepared a map-based narrative, which was released in April 2021, to further communication the results of the study. View this story map for a visulaization of the study results." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Specific findings include the following:" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "The USGS is continuing research on contaminant sources and pathways in the environment and the potential effects on fish, wildlife, and humans through its Chesapeake Science Plan. For more information on Chesapeake Activities contact Scott Phillips." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Background and Issue. The Chesapeake Bay, along the mid-Atlantic coast of North America, is the largest estuary in the United States and supports ecologically diverse freshwater and estuarine habitats. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is also home to economically important industrial, agricultural, and urban infrastructure and land uses. Contaminants in the watershed are a concern because of their potential to have adverse effects on fish, wildlife, and human health. Mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish tissues are the primary contaminants that result in fish consumption advisories in the bay and its watershed." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "This study was a coordinated effort between the USGS Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology Programs and the USGS Chesapeake Bay studies to document the extent, severity, and biological impacts of chemical contaminants in the watershed and produce science to develop strategies to reduce identified impacts." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Identifying and prioritizing mitigation strategies to reduce exposure and health risks posed by mercury requires an understanding of its occurrence and of the processes that control bioaccumulation through the food chain. Various jurisdictions regularly monitor fish mercury concentrations in the watershed to inform impairments of waterbodies and fish consumption advisories, offering an untapped resource to understand larger scale patterns of mercury concentrations and potential risks to fish, wildlife, and humans." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "This research was funded by the USGS Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology) of the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area, and Environments Programs. We also acknowledge the efforts of the state agencies who collected and provided data to support the analyses." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Fish mercury data from State monitoring programs and research studies within the Chesapeake Bay were compiled and summarized to provide a comprehensive overview of the variation in fish mercury concentrations among species and habitats within the watershed. These data are put into context with existing health benchmarks for humans, birds, and fish. Scientists also provide a roadmap for an integrated monitoring program." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Paper: Willacker Jr., J.J., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Blazer, V.S., 2020, Mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater fishes of the Chesapeake Bay watershed: Ecotoxicology, v. 29, pp. 459-484, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-020-02193-5." } ], "funder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Environmental Health Program", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/programs/environmental-health-program" }, "about": [ { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "fish tissue" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Health Effects" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental Health" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fishing and Hunting" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental Health Featured Science Activities" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "benchmarks" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freshwater Fish and Habitats" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contaminant Transport and Effects" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Metals Exposure and Effects" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fish Health and Toxic Contaminants" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Health Risks" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fish Bioaccumulation" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ecosystems" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Information Systems" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chesapeake Bay" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exposure Pathways" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Human Exposure" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fish, Streams, and Water Quality" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Methods and Analysis" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Science Technology" } ]
}