Hg Bioaccumulation in the Aquatic Food Web from Tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China and Potential Consumption Advisories

25 Pages Posted: 13 Apr 2023

See all articles by Xueheng Wang

Xueheng Wang

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment

Qing Xie

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment

Yongmin Wang

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment

Hongjian Lü

Southwest University - College of Fisheries

Mei Fu

Southwest University - College of Fisheries

Dingyong Wang

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment

Jiajia Li

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment

Abstract

The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) holds the distinction of being China's largest reservoir, and the presence of pollutants in the fish from the reservoir have a direct impact on the health of local residents. Thus, 349 fish specimens of 21 species and 1 mollusk were collected from four typical tributaries of the TGR from 2019 to 2020. These specimens were analyzed for the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg), and some representative samples were tested for δ13C and δ15N values to reveal the characteristics of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The maximum safe daily consumption was estimated based on the oral reference dose (0.1 μg kg-1 bw/day according to US-EPA, 2017). The results showed that the mean THg and MeHg concentrations in fish from the TGR tributaries were 73.18 ± 49.21 ng g-1 and 48.42 ± 40.66 ng g-1, respectively, with the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of THg and MeHg being 0.066 and 0.060, respectively. Among all the fish species in the tributaries, the highest daily maximum safe consumption amount was 1253.89 g for S. asotus consumed by adults, while the lowest was 62.88 g for C. nasus consumed by children.

Keywords: tributaries of Three Gorges Reservoir, Mercury, bioaccumulation, fish, consumption advisories

Suggested Citation

Wang, Xueheng and Xie, Qing and Wang, Yongmin and Lü, Hongjian and Fu, Mei and Wang, Dingyong and Li, Jiajia, Hg Bioaccumulation in the Aquatic Food Web from Tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China and Potential Consumption Advisories. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4415191 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4415191

Xueheng Wang

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment ( email )

Qing Xie

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment ( email )

Yongmin Wang

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment ( email )

Hongjian Lü

Southwest University - College of Fisheries ( email )

Mei Fu

Southwest University - College of Fisheries ( email )

Dingyong Wang

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment ( email )

Jiajia Li (Contact Author)

Southwest University - College of Resources and Environment ( email )

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
18
Abstract Views
126
PlumX Metrics