Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st, North Miami, FL 33181, USA.
Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Jul;168:112408. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112408. Epub 2021 May 6.
Mercury (Hg) concentrations have significantly increased in oceans during the last century. This element accumulates in marine fauna and can reach toxic levels. Seafood consumption is the main pathway of methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity in humans. Here, we analyzed total Hg (T-Hg) concentrations in two oceanic squid species (Ommastrephes bartramii and Thysanoteuthis rhombus) of an increasing commercial interest off Martinique, French West Indies. Stable isotope ratios reveal a negative linear relationship between δN or δC in diamondback squid samples. No significant trend was observed between δS values and T-Hg concentrations, contrasting with the sulfate availability and sulfide abundance hypotheses. This adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting Hg methylation via sulfate-reducing bacteria is not the main mechanism driving Hg bioavailability in mesopelagic organisms. All squid samples present T-Hg levels below the maximum safe consumption limit (0.5 ppm), deeming the establishment of a commercial squid fishery in the region safe for human consumption.
在过去的一个世纪中，海洋中的汞（Hg）浓度显著增加。这种元素在海洋动物群中积累，并可能达到有毒水平。海鲜消费是人类甲基汞（MeHg）毒性的主要途径。在这里，我们分析了法属西印度群岛马提尼克岛附近具有日益增长商业价值的两种海洋鱿鱼物种（Ommastrephes bartramii 和 Thysanoteuthis rhombus）中的总汞（T-Hg）浓度。稳定同位素比表明，箭石样本中的 δN 或 δC 呈负线性关系。硫同位素值与 T-Hg 浓度之间没有观察到显著趋势，这与硫酸盐可用性和硫化物丰度假说相反。这增加了越来越多的证据表明，通过硫酸盐还原细菌进行的汞甲基化不是驱动中层浮游生物中汞生物利用度的主要机制。所有鱿鱼样本中的 T-Hg 水平均低于最大安全消费限量（0.5 ppm），这表明在该地区建立商业鱿鱼渔业对人类消费是安全的。
