A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region
This study presents a 35-year record of total mercury (Hg) concentrations in the detritivore fish <i>Prochilodus nigricans</i> (Curimatã) and the carnivore <i>Cichla pleiozona</i> (Tucunaré), two of the most widely distributed, ecologically important and consumed fish species...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/2/144 |
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| author | Luiz Drude de Lacerda Ronaldo de Almeida Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos |
| author_facet | Luiz Drude de Lacerda Ronaldo de Almeida Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos |
| author_sort | Luiz Drude de Lacerda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study presents a 35-year record of total mercury (Hg) concentrations in the detritivore fish <i>Prochilodus nigricans</i> (Curimatã) and the carnivore <i>Cichla pleiozona</i> (Tucunaré), two of the most widely distributed, ecologically important and consumed fish species in the upper Madeira River Basin in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Fish samples from the major Madeira River and marginal lakes and tributaries were compared. Irrespective of site, Hg concentrations were higher in the carnivore fish compared to the detritivore. Hg concentrations increased 5-fold in <i>C. pleiozona</i> in the past three decades, whereas they remained relatively constant in <i>P. nigricans</i> when analyzing the entire 35-year period. When analyzed separately, fish in the main river and marginal lake and tributaries presented the same pattern of Hg variation, with a significant increase in Hg concentrations in the carnivore and in the detritivore in marginal lakes and tributaries but not in the main river. This was in line with the increase in methyl-Hg production in tributaries, mostly associated with deforestation in the past decade in the basin. Although an increase in direct emissions from artisanal gold mining also occurred in the past decade, this caused virtually no impact on fish Hg concentrations, suggesting atmospheric emission and deposition in forests and further export to water systems as an intermediate link with fish Hg concentrations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:12:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88bcf8ceae254b79b184af61e756a7c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:12:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-88bcf8ceae254b79b184af61e756a7c12024-02-23T15:36:26ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-02-0112214410.3390/toxics12020144A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon RegionLuiz Drude de Lacerda0Ronaldo de Almeida1Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos2Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Costeira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LBC-LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. da Abolição, 3207 Meireles, Fortaleza 60165-081, CE, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Regional e Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang C. Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Av. Pres. Dutra, 2967 Olaria, Porto Velho 76801-059, RO, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Regional e Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang C. Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Av. Pres. Dutra, 2967 Olaria, Porto Velho 76801-059, RO, BrazilThis study presents a 35-year record of total mercury (Hg) concentrations in the detritivore fish <i>Prochilodus nigricans</i> (Curimatã) and the carnivore <i>Cichla pleiozona</i> (Tucunaré), two of the most widely distributed, ecologically important and consumed fish species in the upper Madeira River Basin in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Fish samples from the major Madeira River and marginal lakes and tributaries were compared. Irrespective of site, Hg concentrations were higher in the carnivore fish compared to the detritivore. Hg concentrations increased 5-fold in <i>C. pleiozona</i> in the past three decades, whereas they remained relatively constant in <i>P. nigricans</i> when analyzing the entire 35-year period. When analyzed separately, fish in the main river and marginal lake and tributaries presented the same pattern of Hg variation, with a significant increase in Hg concentrations in the carnivore and in the detritivore in marginal lakes and tributaries but not in the main river. This was in line with the increase in methyl-Hg production in tributaries, mostly associated with deforestation in the past decade in the basin. Although an increase in direct emissions from artisanal gold mining also occurred in the past decade, this caused virtually no impact on fish Hg concentrations, suggesting atmospheric emission and deposition in forests and further export to water systems as an intermediate link with fish Hg concentrations.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/2/144Amazon basinHg emissionsdeforestationASGMfishtotal Hg |
| spellingShingle | Luiz Drude de Lacerda Ronaldo de Almeida Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region Toxics Amazon basin Hg emissions deforestation ASGM fish total Hg |
| title | A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region |
| title_full | A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region |
| title_fullStr | A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region |
| title_short | A 35-Year Record (1987–2022) of Hg Concentrations in Two of the Fish Species Most Consumed by People Living in the Upper Madeira River Basin, Brazilian Amazon Region |
| title_sort | 35 year record 1987 2022 of hg concentrations in two of the fish species most consumed by people living in the upper madeira river basin brazilian amazon region |
| topic | Amazon basin Hg emissions deforestation ASGM fish total Hg |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/2/144 |
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