Temporal and geographic trends in mercury concentrations in muscle tissue in five species of Hudson River, USA, fish.
We analyzed a New York (USA) state database of mercury concentrations in muscle tissue for five species of fish (striped bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and carp) over a range of locations in the Hudson River (USA) between 1970 and 2004. We used regression models to discern temporal and geographic change in the fish while controlling for a positive correlation between mercury concentration and body mass. Mercury concentrations significantly increased in fish from New York Harbor waters to the mid-Hudson River. Striped bass and yellow perch showed a shallower increase in mercury concentration with river mile than did carp, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. Mercury concentrations declined over the 34-year period. These results imply that a geographically restricted source of mercury may be spread throughout the watershed by toxin-laden dispersing species. The increase of mercury toward the north may relate to a point source in the mid-Hudson River, or it may indicate mercury released from the Adirondack watershed. The decline of mercury over three decades corresponds to a reduction of various inputs in the region. The temporal and geographic pattern of mercury in sediments corresponds to the geographic trend of mercury in fish.
Levinton
Jeffrey S
JS
Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245, USA. levinton@life.bio.sunysb.edu
Pochron
Sharon T
ST
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes; D005843:Geography; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D009518:New York; D012044:Regression Analysis; D045483:Rivers; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury