title: Temporal characterization of mercury accumulation at different trophic levels and implications for metal biomagnification along a coastal food web.
abstract: The main goal of this study was to assess temporal mercury variations along an estuarine food web to evaluate the mercury contamination level of the system and the risks that humans are exposed to, due to mercury biomagnification. The highest mercury concentrations in the sediments and primary producers (macrophytes) were observed during winter sampling. Instead, the highest mercury concentrations in the water, suspended particulate matter as well as in the zooplanktonic and suprabenthic communities were observed during summer sampling. Evidences of mercury biomagnification along the food web were corroborated by the positive biomagnification factors, particularly for omnivorous macrobenthic species. Comparing the mercury levels at distinct components with several environmental quality criteria it suggests that sediments, water and edible species (e.g., bivalve Scrobicularia plana and the crustacean Carcinus maenas) presented higher mercury levels than the values accepted by legislation which represent a matter of concern for the environment and human health.
authors.affiliation: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: gcardoso@ci.uc.pt.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PO Box 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal; Universidade Aberta, Department of Sciences and Technology, P-4200-055 Oporto, Portugal.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Azeiteiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020387:Food Chain; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Biomagnification; Environmental quality; Food safety; Food web; Mercury; Temporal variation