Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Abstract
The current understanding of methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity to avian species has improved considerably in recent years and indicates that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of MeHg through the diet can adversely affect various aspects of avian health, reproduction, and survival. Because fish-eating birds are at particular risk for elevated MeHg exposure, the authors surveyed the available primary and secondary literature to summarize the effects of dietary MeHg on the common loon (Gavia immer) and to derive ecologically relevant toxic thresholds for dietary exposure to MeHg in fish prey. After considering the available data, the authors propose three screening benchmarks of 0.1, 0.18, and 0.4μgg-1 wet weight MeHg in prey fish. The lowest benchmark (0.1μgg-1 wet wt) is the threshold for adverse behavioral impacts in adult loons and is close to the empirically determined no observed adverse effects level for subclinical effects observed in captive loon chicks. The remaining benchmarks (0.18 and 0.4μgg-1 wet wt) correspond to MeHg levels in prey fish associated with significant reproductive impairment and reproductive failure in wild adult loons. Overall, these benchmarks incorporate recent findings and reviews of MeHg toxicity in aquatic fish-eating birds and provide the basis for a national ecological risk assessment for Hg and loons in Canada. © 2012 SETAC.
First Page
2399
Last Page
2407
DOI
10.1002/etc.1971
Publication Date
10-1-2012
Recommended Citation
Depew, David C.; Basu, Niladri; Burgess, Neil M.; and Campbell, Linda M., "Derivation of screening benchmarks for dietary methylmercury exposure for the common loon (Gavia immer): Rationale for use in ecological risk assessment" (2012). University Faculty Publications and Creative Works. 291.
https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/calvin_facultypubs/291