Christopher Perkins

Atmospheric mercury monitoring survey in Beijing, China.

With the aid of one industrial, two urban, two suburban, and two rural sampling locations, diurnal patterns of total gaseous mercury (TGM) were monitored in January, February and September of 1998 in Beijing, China. Monitoring was conducted in six (two urban, two suburban, one rural and the industrial sites) of the seven sampling sites during January and February (winter) and in four (two urban, one rural, and the industrial sites) of the sampling locations during September (summer) of 1998. In the three suburban sampling stations, mean TGM concentrations during the winter sampling period were 8.6, 10.7, and 6.2 ng/m3, respectively. In the two urban sampling locations mean TGM concentrations during winter and summer sampling periods were 24.7, 8.3, 10, and 12.7 ng/m3, respectively. In the suburban-industrial and the two rural sampling locations, mean mercury concentrations ranged from 3.1-5.3 ng/m3 in winter to 4.1-7.7 ng/m3 in summer sampling periods. In the Tiananmen Square (urban), and Shijingshan (suburban) sampling locations the mean TGM concentrations during the summer sampling period were higher than winter concentrations, which may have been caused by evaporation of soil-bound mercury in warm periods. Continuous meteorological data were available at one of the suburban sites, which allowed the observation of mercury concentration variations associated with some weather parameters. It was found that there was a moderate negative correlation between the wind speed and the TGM concentration at this suburban sampling location. It was also found that during the sampling period at the same site, the quantity of TGM transported to or from the sampling site was mainly influenced by the duration and frequency of wind occurrence from certain directions.

A global assessment of chromium pollution using sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species.

Chromium (Cr) is a well-known human carcinogen and a potential reproductive toxicant, but its contribution to ocean pollution is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to provide a global baseline for Cr as a marine pollutant using the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species. Biopsies were collected from free-ranging whales around the globe during the voyage of the research vessel The Odyssey. Total Cr levels were measured in 361 sperm whales collected from 16 regions around the globe detectable levels ranged from 0.9 to 122.6 microg Cr g tissue(-1) with a global mean of 8.8+/-0.9 microg g(-1). Two whales had undetectable levels. The highest levels were found in sperm whales sampled in the waters near the Islands of Kiribati in the Pacific (mean=44.3+/-14.4) and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean (mean=19.5+/-5.4 microg g(-1)). The lowest mean levels were found in whales near the Canary Islands (mean=3.7+/-0.8 microg g(-1)) and off of the coast of Sri Lanka (mean=3.3+/-0.4 microg g(-1)). The global mean Cr level in whale skin was 28-times higher than mean Cr skin levels in humans without occupational exposure. The whale levels were more similar to levels only observed previously in human lung tissue from workers who died of Cr-induced lung cancer. We conclude that Cr pollution in the marine environment is significant and that further study is urgently needed.

Health Evaluation of Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Northwestern Atlantic During Direct Capture and Fisheries Gear Disentanglement

Abstract Health evaluations were conducted in the northwestern Atlantic for 19 leatherback turtles, which included 12 turtles directly captured as part of a satellite telemetry study and 7 turtles entangled in fishing gear. Assessment included physical examination; determination of heart rate and respiratory rate; and hematologic, plasma biochemical, nutritional, toxicologic, parasitologic, and microbiological investigations. Significant differences were found between directly captured and entangled turtles for curved carapace length, curved carapace width, blood urea nitrogen, chloride, sodium, triglycerides, relative heterophil count, relative monocyte count, relative and absolute eosinophil count, pH, bicarbonate, lead, and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Directly captured turtles showed evidence of mild respiratory acidosis. Significant differences were found between sexes for curved carapace length, curved carapace width, total protein, globulin, sodium, relative monocyte count, gamma-globulin, and anion gap. Relatively high blood concentrations of selenium and cadmium were found in all turtles.

Paramoebiasis Associated with Mass Mortality of American Lobster Homarus americanus in Long Island Sound, USA

Abstract In the autumn of 1999, a mass mortality of American lobster Homarus americanus was reported by lobster fishermen from western Long Island Sound (LIS). At the conclusion of the 1999 season, dead lobsters were estimated at 11 million, resulting in a 90– 99% reduction of landings in western LIS and failure of the natural lobster fishery. Fishermen described moribund lobsters that were “limp,” interpreted clinically as paretic or flaccidly paralyzed. Necropsies were performed on dead or dying limp lobsters, and tissue samples were collected for histopathological, ultrastructural, microbiological, and toxicological analysis. Microbiological cultures of hemolymph and hepatopancreas failed to isolate a bacterium or group of bacteria in any significant frequency or pattern. Toxicological analyses of hepatopancreas and skeletal muscle did not identify significant amounts of trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, or pesticides. Microscopic analyses of hemocoel...

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen along the Connecticut coastline of Long Island Sound: a decade of measurements

Four monitoring stations were established along the Connecticut coastline to study the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen into the Long Island Sound (LIS). Two stations at Bridgeport and Hammonasset were set up in 1991. Two additional ones have been in full operation since 1997 at Old Greenwich and Avery Point. Measurements were taken continuously from 1991 through 1994, and from 1997 through 1999. Nitrogen species including (nitrate/nitrite), ammonium, nitric acid gas and total nitrogen (since 1997) in air and precipitation were collected and used to infer ambient concentrations and dry and wet deposition flux densities, with independently collected meteorological data. Statistical procedures were employed to analyze the spatial and temporal variations of the weekly data and quarterly means for the two sampling periods of 1991–1994 and 1997–1999. The deposition flux densities of total nitrogen during 1991–1994 were 6.80 and 24.36 mg N m � 2 wk � 1 , respectively, for dry and wet forms averaged over the two sites of Bridgeport and Hammonasset. During 1997–1999, the overall mean weekly wet and dry depositions of total nitrogen over the four sites were 4.28 and 23.64 mg N m � 2 wk � 1 , respectively. In dry deposition, nitric acid gas was predominant and explained more than 70% of the total dry flux, while in wet deposition nitrate/nitrite was the major contributor (40–60%). Most of the collected nitrogen quantities were higher during warm months, especially from June through September, indicating higher emission rate, scavenging efficiency, and surface uptaking at warmer temperature. The ambient concentration and dry deposition peaked at Bridgeport, and the maximal wet deposition was observed at Old Greenwich. The spatial variation of the dry deposition quantities was affected by potential local emission sources, while the geographic gradient of the wet deposition was largely attributed to the proximities of the sites to the New York–New Jersey metropolitan area. Comparisons of nitrogen quantities between the two sampling periods revealed that the dry and total depositions at Hammonasset decreased, while there were no discernible changes at Bridgeport. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Long-term investigation of atmospheric mercury contamination in Connecticut

Atmospheric mercury was monitored from January 1997 through the end of December 1999 in eight sampling locations in Connecticut. Four sampling locations were chosen along the shores of Long Island Sound and four were chosen in interior sections of Connecticut. Sampling locations were chosen to represent both rural and urban sectors. Average concentrations of gaseous and particulate mercury were found to be 2.06 ng/m3 and 10.5 pg/m3, respectively. The weekly average wet deposition fluxes of mercury and methylmercury over the three-year sampling period were measured to be 611 and 11 microg/ha/week, respectively. Concentrations of gaseous, particulate and wet flux of mercury were found to be significantly higher in urban areas than the rural sampling locations. There was, however, no significant difference between the mean gaseous and particulate concentrations of mercury in coastal and inland sampling locations. No significant difference was observed either between the wet fluxes of total mercury in coastal and inland sampling locations and there was no spatial gradient for mercury concentration and deposition. The data of this study suggest that vehicular traffic and localized emission sources in urban areas play a significant role in determining the atmospheric concentration of mercury in Connecticut.

Trace Metal and Organochlorine Pesticide Concentrations in Cold-Stunned Juvenile Kemp's Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Abstract Whole blood and keratin mercury concentrations, complete blood cell counts, and plasma biochemical health profiles were evaluated in 31 juvenile cold-stunned Kemps ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In addition, plasma copper, zinc, selenium, and cadmium concentrations were measured for 16 of these turtles. Liver mercury concentrations were measured for 6 turtles that were dead upon acquisition or died during rehabilitation. Concentrations of 18 organochlorine pesticides were measured in plasma of 18 live turtles, and liver, kidney, fat, and brain of 3 deceased turtles. Metal levels were generally similar to those previously published for sea turtles, with mean values (wet weight) of 24 ng/g for blood mercury, 67 ng/g for liver mercury, 389 ng/g for keratin mercury, 690 ng/g for plasma copper, 2290 ng/g for plasma zinc, and 490 ng/g for plasma selenium. Cadmium was not detected in any sample. Organochlorine levels were generally low in comparison to values published for cold-stunned juvenile Kemps ridley turtles in the 1980s. Several significant correlations between metal levels, hematology, and plasma biochemical health parameters were detected; however, the cause of these correlations could not be determined. This study demonstrates that Kemps ridley turtles may be exposed to contaminants at a young age. Further investigation of the sources and effects of contaminants in juvenile sea turtles is warranted.

Global mercury and selenium concentrations in skin from free-ranging sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

Pollution of the ocean by mercury (Hg) is a global concern. Hg persists, bioaccumulates and is toxic putting high trophic consumers at risk. The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), is a sentinel of ocean health due to its wide distribution, longevity and high trophic level. Our aim was to survey Hg concentrations worldwide in the skin of free-ranging sperm whales considering region, gender and age. Samples were collected from 343 whales in 17 regions during the voyage of the research vessel, Odyssey, between 1999 and 2005. Skin was analyzed for total Hg and detected in all but three samples with a global mean of 2.5±0.1 μg g(-1) ranging from 0.1 to 16.0 μg g(-1). The Mediterranean Sea had the highest regional mean with 6.1 μg g(-1) followed by Australia with 3.5 μg g(-1). Considering gender, females and males did not have significantly different global Hg concentrations. The variation among regions for females was significantly different with highest levels in the Mediterranean and lowest in Sri Lanka; however, males were not significantly different among regions. Considering age in males, adults and subadults did not have significantly different Hg concentrations, and were not significantly different among regions. The toxic effects of these Hg concentrations are uncertain. Selenium (Se), an essential element, antagonizes Hg at equimolar amounts. We measured total Se concentrations and found detectable levels in all samples with a global mean of 33.1±1.1 μg g(-1) ranging from 2.5 to 179 μg g(-1). Se concentrations were found to be several fold higher than Hg concentrations with the average Se:Hg molar ratio being 59:1 and no correlation between the two elements. It is possible Hg is being detoxified in the skin by another mechanism. These data provide the first global analysis of Hg and Se concentrations in a free-ranging cetacean.

Relationships between Concentrations of Mercury in Largemouth Bass and Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Connecticut Lakes

Abstract Concentrations of total mercury were determined for axial muscle tissue of 438 largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from 46 lakes representing five regions in Connecticut to determine relationships between mercury concentrations and lake characteristics and to assess regional differences in mercury concentrations. Expected concentrations of mercury (EHg) predicted for a length of 356 mm for each population ranged from 0.103 to 0.795 μg/g wet weight. Principal components analysis revealed that, in general, two types of lakes were represented in the data set and were grouped based on hydrologic characteristics. Type-II lakes (artificial impoundments) had a significantly lower mean retention time than type-I lakes (natural drainage lakes) and a significantly larger mean watershed area, watershed area : surface area ratio, watershed area: lake volume ratio, and shoreline development index. Mean EHg was approximately 20% higher in type-II lakes (0.514 μ/g wet weight) than in type-I lakes (0.410 μg/g ...

Global Assessment of Silver Pollution using Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an Indicator Species

Silver pollution in the marine environment is of concern, particularly, with the rapid increasing use of silver nanoparticles in consumer products providing additional sources of silver emissions. Silver is highly toxic and known to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms; however, the risk silver poses to the marine ecosystem is poorly understood. The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), a toothed whale having a wide global distribution and high trophic level, is a sentinel of ocean health. The aim of this study was to provide a global baseline for silver as a marine pollutant using the sperm whale as an indicator species. Skin biopsies were collected in free-ranging sperm whales around the globe during the voyage of the research vessel, Odyssey, during 2000 and 2005. Total silver levels were measured in 298 sperm whales from 16 regions. Detectable levels were found in 176 whales and ranged from 0.1 to 4,179.0 μg/g ww with a global mean level of 16.9 ± 14.1 μg/g ww. The highest mean level was found in whales sampled in waters near Seychelles with 123.3 μg/g ww, and the lowest mean in whales near Chagos with 0.1 μg/g ww. These data provide an important global baseline for silver pollution that precedes the recent emergence of silver nanoparticles.