Effect of pH on the bioaccumulation of low level, dissolved methylmercury by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

An inverse relationship has been observed between pH and MeHg concentration in freshwater fish. Many hypotheses exist regarding the mechanisms which lead to elevated levels of organic Hg in fish from low pH lakes. To determine if pH has a direct effect on the rate of MeHg bioaccumulation in fish, ra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water, air and soil pollution air and soil pollution, 1991-04, Vol.56 (1), p.631-640
Main Authors: Ponce, R.A. (Brooks Rand Ltd., Seattle, WA (USA)), Bloom, N.S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
BIOACCUMULATION
BIOACUMULACION
Biological and medical sciences
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
MERCURE
MERCURIO
MERCURY
ONCORHYNCHUS
Oncorhynchus mykiss
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Summary:An inverse relationship has been observed between pH and MeHg concentration in freshwater fish. Many hypotheses exist regarding the mechanisms which lead to elevated levels of organic Hg in fish from low pH lakes. To determine if pH has a direct effect on the rate of MeHg bioaccumulation in fish, rainbow trout fingerlings (Oncorhynchus mykiss ) were exposed to a low concentration of aqueous methylmercuric chloride at four pH-levels for eight weeks. MeHg and total Hg were specifically determined on whole fish homogenates and water samples. The pH was found to have a significant inverse effect on the rate of MeHg bioaccumulation in the fish only in the lowest exposure level. These results suggest that a portion of the Hg burden in fish from low pH systems may be due to the direct effects of low pH on bioaccumulation, but that a threshold may exist above which pH does not play a significant role.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/BF00342305