Environmental pollution
-
Environmental pollution · Jan 2012
Concentrations of methylmercury in invertebrates from wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America.
Prairie wetlands may be important sites of mercury (Hg) methylation resulting in elevated methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in water, sediments and biota. Invertebrates are an important food resource and may act as an indicator of MeHg exposure to higher organisms. ⋯ Methylmercury concentrations generally increased from gastropods with significantly lower average MeHg concentrations compared to other invertebrate taxa. Surrounding land use (agricultural, grassland and organic agricultural) may influence MeHg concentrations in invertebrates, with invertebrate MeHg concentrations being higher from organic ponds (457.5 ± 156.7 ng · g(-1)) compared to those from grassland ponds (74.8 ± 14.6 ng · g(-1)) and ponds on agricultural lands (32.8 ± 6.2 ng · g(-1)).