Bioaccumulation

About: Bioaccumulation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7112 publications have been published within this topic receiving 208953 citations. The topic is also known as: bioakumulace.

Chemical contaminants and biological indicators of mussel health during gametogenesis.

Abstract: Mytilus edulis were collected intertidally from three locations in Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia, on five occasions during spring and summer 2000 Bioindicators of health (lipid content), condition and gonad indices (CI and GI), and sex ratio, as well as vitellins, were compared with the bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), coprostanol, and metals Twice as many male as female mussels were collected from a downtown site (M8) close to numerous raw sewage effluents and a naval dockyard Males from M8 had a high lipid content, and females had a delayed production of vitellins These mussels also displayed the highest levels of PACs, coprostanol, Ag, and Sn Coprostanol and silver are sewage markers in sediments, and their presence in mussels confirms exposure to sewage effluents Female mussels were more abundant in an area outside the industrialized part of the harbor that had higher marine traffic (M14); displayed higher levels of vitellins in gonads; had similar time trends for CI and GI; and had some similar metals compared with mussels from M8 The lowest variability in biomarkers was observed at a site in a mostly residential arm of the harbor (M12), which was expected to be more pristine based on an earlier investigation Compared to mussels in M14, the mussels of M12 had the lowest condition indices and PCB concentrations and low but similar levels of lipids, PACs, and coprostanol They also displayed the highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Hg, and females had the highest gonad indices early in the season

The challenge of studying TiO2 nanoparticle bioaccumulation at environmental concentrations: crucial use of a stable isotope tracer.

Abstract: The ecotoxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) is a growing area of research with many challenges ahead. To be relevant, laboratory experiments must be performed with well-controlled and environmentally realistic (i.e., low) exposure doses. Moreover, when focusing on the intensively manufactured titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs, sample preparations and chemical analysis are critical steps to meaningfully assay NP’s bioaccumulation. To deal with these imperatives, we synthesized for the first time TiO2 NPs labeled with the stable isotope 47Ti. Thanks to the 47Ti labeling, we could detect the bioaccumulation of NPs in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) exposed for 1 h at environmental concentrations via water (7–120 μg/L of 47TiO2 NPs) and via their food (4–830 μg/L of 47TiO2 NPs mixed with 1 × 106 cells/mL of cyanobacteria) despite the high natural Ti background, which varied in individual mussels. The assimilation efficiency (AE) of TiO2 NPs by mussels from their diet was very low (AE = 3.0 ± 2.7%) suggesting that N...

Mercury and Arsenic Bioaccumulation and Eutrophication in Baiyangdian Lake, China

Abstract: Hg and As are widespread contaminants globally and particularly in Asia. We conducted a field study in Baiyangdian Lake, the largest lake in the North China Plain, to investigate bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of potentially toxic metals (total mercury and arsenic) in sites differing in proximity from the major point sources of nutrients and metals. Hg concentrations in fish and As concentrations in water are above critical threshold levels (US Environmental Protection Agency based) considered to pose some risk to humans and wildlife. Hg concentrations in biota are within the range of concentrations in lakes in the Northeast US despite the high levels of Hg emission and deposition in China whereas As concentrations are much higher. Dissolved concentrations of both Hg and As decrease with increasing chlorophyll concentrations suggesting that there is significant uptake of metal from water by algae. These results provide evidence for algal blooms controlling dissolved metal concentrations and potentially mitigating the trophic transfer of Hg to fish. This study also underscores the need for further investigation into this contaminated ecosystem and others like it in China that are an important source of fish and drinking water for consumption by local human populations.

Quantification of Heavy Metals in Mining Affected Soil and Their Bioaccumulation in Native Plant Species.

Abstract: Several anthropogenic and natural sources are considered as the primary sources of toxic metals in the environment. The current study investigates the level of heavy metals contamination in the flora associated with serpentine soil along the Mafic and Ultramafic rocks northern-Pakistan. Soil and wild native plant species were collected from chromites mining affected areas and analyzed for heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu and Zn) using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS-PEA-700). The heavy metal concentrations were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in mine affected soil as compared to reference soil, however Cr and Ni exceeded maximum allowable limit (250 and 60 mg kg−1, respectively) set by SEPA for soil. Inter-metal correlations between soil, roots and shoots showed that the sources of contamination of heavy metals were mainly associated with chromites mining. All the plant species accumulated significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals as compared to reference plant. The open dumping of mine ...