Environmental Studies and Forestry

Experimental evidence for recovery of mercury-contaminated fish populations

P. J. Blanchfield, J. W. M. Rudd, et al.

Discover how a 15-year whole-ecosystem experiment revealed the impact of reduced mercury loading on fish populations! This groundbreaking research by Paul J. Blanchfield and colleagues demonstrates that lowering mercury in lakes can significantly benefit fish consumers by decreasing toxic methylmercury levels in the food web.

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Playback language: English

Index

Abstract

Anthropogenic mercury (Hg) release is a health concern due to methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulation in fish. This study used a 15-year whole-ecosystem experiment to assess MeHg reduction in fish following decreased Hg additions to a boreal lake. Hg isotope enrichment increased wet deposition fivefold, leading to higher MeHg in the food web and fish populations. After cessation of Hg loading, MeHg concentrations in key fish populations decreased by 38–76% in eight years. The results demonstrate that reducing Hg loading to lakes, regardless of watershed contributions, benefits fish consumers.

Publisher

Nature

Published On

Dec 15, 2021

Authors

Paul J. Blanchfield, John W. M. Rudd, Lee E. Hrenych, Marc Amyot, Christopher L. Babiarz, Ken G. Beaty, R. A. Drew Bodaly, Brian R. Brigham, Cynthia C. Gilmour, Jennifer A. Graydon, Britt D. Hall, Reed C. Harris, Andrew Heyes, Holger Hintelmann, James P. Hurley, Carol A. Kelly, David P. Krabbenhoft, Steve E. Lindberg, Robert P. Mason, Michael J. Paterson, Cheryl L. Podemski, Ken A. Sandilands, George R. Southworth, Vincent L. St. Louis, Lori S. Tate, Michael T. Tate

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