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Mercury and selenium levels in lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) in relation to a harmful red tide event

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Abstract

Tissue levels of mercury (Hg; total, organic) and selenium (Se) were assessed in juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) from Florida nearshore waters collected during a harmful algal bloom (HAB, brevetoxin) event and compared with sharks not exposed to HABs. In all sharks studied, total Hg levels in the muscle were generally present in a molar excess over Se (which may protect against Hg toxicity) and mean muscle Hg levels (0.34 \(\upmu \)g/g) exceed safe human consumption guidelines. While there was generally no difference in tissue Hg and Se levels following exposure of sharks to HABs, hepatic Hg levels were significantly lower (56% reduction) in the HAB-exposed sharks compared to controls. As Hg and HABs are globally increasing in scope and magnitude, further work is warranted to assess their interactions and biotic impacts within aquatic ecosystems, especially for a species such as the lemon shark that is classified as a near-threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Dong-Ha Nam & Niladri Basu

  2. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1220 Prospect Avenue #285, Melbourne, FL, 32901, USA

    Douglas H. Adams

  3. Innovative Health Applications, Kennedy Space Center, IHA-300, Cape Canaveral, FL, 32899, USA

    Eric A. Reyier

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  1. Dong-Ha Nam
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  2. Douglas H. Adams
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  3. Eric A. Reyier
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  4. Niladri Basu
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Correspondence to Niladri Basu.

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Nam, DH., Adams, D.H., Reyier, E.A. et al. Mercury and selenium levels in lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) in relation to a harmful red tide event. Environ Monit Assess 176, 549–559 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1603-4

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