Toxicological significance of mercury in yellow perch in the Laurentian Great Lakes region.
We assessed the risks of mercury in yellow perch, a species important in the trophic transfer of methylmercury, in the Great Lakes region. Mean concentrations in whole perch from 45 (6.5%) of 691 waters equaled or exceeded 0.20 μg/g w.w., a threshold for adverse effects in fish. In whole perch within the size range eaten by common loons (<100 g), mean concentrations exceeded a dietary threshold (0.16 μg/g w.w.) for significant reproductive effects on loons in 19 (7.3%) of 260 waters. Mean concentrations in fillets of perch with length ≥ 15.0 cm, the minimum size retained by anglers, exceeded the USEPA criterion (0.3 μg/g w.w.) in 26 (6.4%) of 404 U.S. waters and exceeded the Ontario guideline (0.26 μg/g w.w.) in 35 (20%) of 179 Ontario waters. Mercury levels in yellow perch in some waters within this region pose risks to perch, to common loons, and to mercury-sensitive human populations.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. jwiener@uwlax.edu
James G
JG
Wiener
Mark B
MB
Sandheinrich
Satyendra P
SP
Bhavsar
Joseph R
JR
Bohr
David C
DC
Evers
Bruce A
BA
Monson
Candy S
CS
Schrank
D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D006114:Great Lakes Region; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D010471:Perches / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014116:Toxicology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury