Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)

Mercury bioavailability was assessed by exposing the dipteran <i>Chironomus riparius</i> for the whole life cycle to legacy-contaminated fluvial sediments (0.038–0.285 mg Hg kg<sup>−1</sup> d.w.) and analyzing tissue concentrations in larvae at different exposure times (7, 11...

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Main Authors: Laura Marziali, Lucia Valsecchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Environments
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/2/7
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author Laura Marziali
Lucia Valsecchi
author_facet Laura Marziali
Lucia Valsecchi
author_sort Laura Marziali
collection DOAJ
description Mercury bioavailability was assessed by exposing the dipteran <i>Chironomus riparius</i> for the whole life cycle to legacy-contaminated fluvial sediments (0.038–0.285 mg Hg kg<sup>−1</sup> d.w.) and analyzing tissue concentrations in larvae at different exposure times (7, 11, and 16 days) and in adults. In the same experiment, diffusive gradients in thin-film passive samplers (DGTs), both piston- and probe-shaped, were co-deployed in the same sediments and retrieved at the same times as the organisms. To compare the two approaches, results showed a good agreement between accumulation kinetics of <i>C. riparius</i> and DGTs, both approximating an apparent steady-state. A strong correlation was found between values in tissues and in both types of DGTs (r between 0.74 and 0.99). Concentrations in mature larvae (19–140 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> w.w.), which may represent a basal level of the aquatic food web, exceeded the European Environmental Quality Standard for biota (20 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> w.w.), which aims at protecting the top predators from secondary poisoning. Body burdens in larvae and in adults were similar, showing negligible decontamination during metamorphosis and proving an efficient mercury transfer from sediments to terrestrial food webs.
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spelling doaj.art-99daa64c196c4a7483da1a7f3e7e4d692023-12-03T14:38:32ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982021-01-0182710.3390/environments8020007Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)Laura Marziali0Lucia Valsecchi1CNR-IRSA Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, ItalyCNR-IRSA Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, ItalyMercury bioavailability was assessed by exposing the dipteran <i>Chironomus riparius</i> for the whole life cycle to legacy-contaminated fluvial sediments (0.038–0.285 mg Hg kg<sup>−1</sup> d.w.) and analyzing tissue concentrations in larvae at different exposure times (7, 11, and 16 days) and in adults. In the same experiment, diffusive gradients in thin-film passive samplers (DGTs), both piston- and probe-shaped, were co-deployed in the same sediments and retrieved at the same times as the organisms. To compare the two approaches, results showed a good agreement between accumulation kinetics of <i>C. riparius</i> and DGTs, both approximating an apparent steady-state. A strong correlation was found between values in tissues and in both types of DGTs (r between 0.74 and 0.99). Concentrations in mature larvae (19–140 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> w.w.), which may represent a basal level of the aquatic food web, exceeded the European Environmental Quality Standard for biota (20 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> w.w.), which aims at protecting the top predators from secondary poisoning. Body burdens in larvae and in adults were similar, showing negligible decontamination during metamorphosis and proving an efficient mercury transfer from sediments to terrestrial food webs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/2/7sedimentsbenthic invertebratesDGTsmercurybioaccumulation
spellingShingle Laura Marziali
Lucia Valsecchi
Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)
Environments
sediments
benthic invertebrates
DGTs
mercury
bioaccumulation
title Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)
title_full Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)
title_fullStr Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)
title_full_unstemmed Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)
title_short Mercury Bioavailability in Fluvial Sediments Estimated Using <em>Chironomus riparius</em> and Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT)
title_sort mercury bioavailability in fluvial sediments estimated using em chironomus riparius em and diffusive gradients in thin films dgt
topic sediments
benthic invertebrates
DGTs
mercury
bioaccumulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/2/7
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