Risks from mercury in anadromous fish collected from Penobscot River, Maine

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 781; p. 146691
• Main Authors: Melnyk, Lisa Jo, Lin, John, Kusnierz, Daniel H., Pugh, Katherine, Durant, James T., Suarez-Soto, Rene J., Venkatapathy, Raghuraman, Sundaravadivelu, Devi, Morris, Anthony, Lazorchak, James M., Perlman, Gary, Stover, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 10-08-2021
• Subjects: Anadromous fish; Consumption; Dose; Mercury; One Health approach; Anadromous fish; Consumption; One Health approach; Mercury; Dose
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146691

Levels of total mercury were measured in tissue of six species of migratory fish (alewife, American shad, blueback herring, rainbow smelt, striped bass, and sea lamprey), and in roe of American shad for two consecutive years collected from the Penobscot River or its estuary. The resultant mercury levels were compared to reference doses as established in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System and wildlife values. Mercury concentrations ranged from 4 μg/kg ww in roe to 1040 μg/kg ww in sea lamprey. Sea lamprey contained the highest amounts of mercury for both seasons of sampling. Current health advisories are set at sufficient levels to protect fishers from harmful consumption of the fish for mercury alone, except for sea lamprey. Based upon published wildlife values for mink, otter, and eagle, consumption of rainbow smelt, striped bass, or sea lamprey poses a risk to mink; striped bass and sea lamprey to otter; and sea lamprey to eagle. For future consideration, the resultant data may serve as a reference point for both human health and wildlife risk assessments for the consumption of anadromous fish. U.S. EPA works with federally recognized Tribes across the nation greatly impacted by restrictions on sustenance fishing, to develop culturally sensitive risk assessments.
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•A One Health approach was utilized.•Included anadromous fish have been rarely studied.•Both humans and animals are at potential risk from consuming anadromous fish.•Sea lamprey contained the highest concentration of mercury.•Current consumption advisories are adequate for mercury only, except for sea lamprey.