Universidad Tecnológica Del Chocó, Biology Department, Biosistematic Research Group, Quibdó, 270008, Colombia.
Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 No. 76-103, Montería, Córdoba, 230003, Colombia.
Chemosphere. 2021 Feb;264(Pt 2):128478. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128478. Epub 2020 Oct 1.
This study was carried out in the Atrato River basin, a tropical ecosystem in northwestern Colombia, highly impacted by gold mining. The aim of this study was to show how these activities have deteriorated the quality of fish species, and how their intensity has influenced the distribution of mercury (Hg) pollution in the Atrato River basin. Results showed that total mercury (THg, n = 842) ranged between 32 ± 53 μg kg (Cyphocharax magdalenae) and 678.5 ± 345 μg kg (Agneiosus pardalis); 38% of the samples exceeded the WHO limit for the protection of populations at risk, and 15% surpassed the WHO maximum limit of THg in fish for human consumption. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) was found between THg with total fish length and trophic level, indicating bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury in fish, respectively. Using the non-migratory and carnivorous fish species Hoplias malabaricus and Caquetaia kraussii, Hg contamination was found distributed from high mining activity zones (Rio Quito, Medio Atrato, and Murindó & Vigía del Fuerte - upstream zones) to low activity areas (Rio Sucio & Carmen del Darién, and Ciénaga de Ungía & Tumaradó - downstream zones). In the first-ever performed methylmercury (MeHg) measurements in 520 fish muscle samples analyzed from the Atrato River basin, a high MeHg/THg ratio (91% of the THg) in species such as A. pardalis and H. malabaricus were recorded. Results indicated that the environment and the fish species in the Atrato River basin had been greatly affected by gold mining activities practiced on the river and its tributaries. Therefore, environmental authorities must take protection measures for the inhabitants of the area as well as for the environment.
本研究在哥伦比亚西北部的热带生态系统阿托罗河流域进行，该流域受到金矿开采的严重影响。本研究旨在展示这些活动如何降低鱼类物种的质量，以及它们的强度如何影响阿托罗河流域汞（Hg）污染的分布。结果表明，总汞（THg，n=842）范围为 32±53μg/kg（Cyphocharax magdalenae）至 678.5±345μg/kg（Agneiosus pardalis）；38%的样本超过了世界卫生组织（WHO）对处于危险中的人群的保护限值，15%的样本超过了 WHO 规定的鱼类中人类可食用的总汞最大限值。THg 与总鱼长和营养级之间存在显著正相关（p<0.001），分别表明汞在鱼类中的生物积累和生物放大。使用非洄游性和肉食性鱼类 Hoplias malabaricus 和 Caquetaia kraussii，发现 Hg 污染分布在高采矿活动区（里约基托、阿托罗中流域和穆林多和比加富特上游区）到低活动区（里奥苏奇和卡门德拉林、以及 Ciénaga de Ungía 和图马拉多下游区）。在对阿托罗河流域 520 个鱼类肌肉样本进行的首次甲基汞（MeHg）测量中，记录到 A. pardalis 和 H. malabaricus 等物种中 MeHg/THg 比值很高（THg 的 91%）。结果表明，金矿开采活动对阿托罗河流域的环境和鱼类物种产生了重大影响。因此，环境主管部门必须为该地区的居民和环境采取保护措施。
