Mercury accumulation in biota of Thunder Creek, Saskatchewan

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01985625· OSTI ID:6441733

Munro, D J; Gummer, W D

Collection of biological organisms was undertaken to investigate the bioaccumulation of mercury in the food chain, the results of which are reported. Two sites were selected on Thunder Creek; the control or background site, site number 2, is located approximately 2.5 km upstream, from site number 1. The selection of organisms for analysis was based on the presence and abundance of each at both locations. Only crayfish (Orconcetes virilis) pearl dace (Semotilus margarita) and brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) were found to be sufficiently abundant. The importance of the data obtained is the significant difference in concentration between the upstream and downstream sites on Thunder Creek. This difference shows that more mercury is available to the biological community at site number 1 than at site number 2 confirming that mercury in the contaminated sediments is being methylated and taken up into the food chain.

• Research Organization: Canadian Dept. of Environment, Saskatchewan
• OSTI ID: 6441733
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 25:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
MERCURY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
METABOLISM
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FOOD CHAINS
METHYLMERCURY
SEDIMENTS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)