Decadal Declines of Mercury in Adult Bluefish (1972–2011) from the Mid-Atlantic Coast of the U.S.A.

Concentrations of total mercury were measured in muscle of adult bluefish (<i>Pomatomus saltatrix</i>) collected in 2011 off North Carolina and compared with similar measurements made in 1972. Concentrations of mercury decreased by 43% in the fish between the two time periods, with an average rate of decline of about 10% per decade. This reduction is similar to estimated reductions of mercury observed in atmospheric deposition, riverine input, seawater, freshwater lakes, and freshwater fish across northern North America. Eight other studies between 1973 and 2007 confirm the decrease in mercury levels in bluefish captured in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. These findings imply that (1) reductions in the release of mercury across northern North America were reflected rather quickly (decades) in the decline of mercury in adult bluefish; (2) marine predatory fish may have been contaminated by anthropogenic sources of mercury for over 100 years; and (3) if bluefish are surrogates for other predators in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, then a reduction in the intake of mercury by the fish-consuming public has occurred. Finally, with global emissions of mercury continuing to increase, especially from Asia, it is important that long-term monitoring programs be conducted for mercury in marine fish of economic importance

Trajectory of Mean “Just Right” Behaviors by MA Group and Dx Group.

<p>Trajectory of Mean “Just Right” Behaviors by MA Group and Dx Group.</p

Mental Age (MA), IQ, Vineland (VABS) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL-Total) Scores at Time 1 and Time 2 for Typically Developing (TD) and DS groups by MA Group.

<p>Note: Mean values are presented with standard deviations in parentheses.</p><p>*N = 20 for T1 VABS Score.</p>1<p>Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite Score; ²Child Behavior Checklist Total Problems Score.</p

Mean± s.d. of MeHg concentrations of killifish (ng g⁻¹ dry weight) exposed to 15°C, 21°C and 27°C for 30 days.

<p>MeHg concentrations were highest in killifish exposed to 27°C. Different letters indicate significant differences.</p

Environmental parameters, % TOC, methylmercury concentrations in sediment and tissue of <i>Fundulus heteroclitus</i> from salt marsh pools.

<p>Environmental parameters, % TOC, methylmercury concentrations in sediment and tissue of <i>Fundulus heteroclitus</i> from salt marsh pools.</p

There is no relationship between temperature and %MeHg in sediments for 2009 and 2010 in pool habitats, indicating that temperature may not be affecting MeHg bioavailability and consequently fish exposure between pools.

<p>There is no relationship between temperature and %MeHg in sediments for 2009 and 2010 in pool habitats, indicating that temperature may not be affecting MeHg bioavailability and consequently fish exposure between pools.</p

Mean± s.d. of growth (expressed as % weight change) of killifish exposed to 15°C, 21°C and 27°C for 30 days.

<p>Trial 1 killifish had positive growth in all treatment temperatures. Trial 2 killifish had slight negative average growth in treatment temperatures of 15°C and 27°C.</p

ERP in Response to the Parallel Lines Oddball Task, 200 ms post-stimulus.

<p>200 ms after stimulus presentation, amplitude at site F7 is relatively more positive after the deviant stimulus (B), as compared to the standard stimulus (A). Negativity is observed at electrode site P7 after the deviant stimulus (D), but not after the standard stimulus.</p

Differences in Performance on the OC-CIT.

<p>Subjects had significantly higher reaction times (A) and made significantly more errors (B) during the congruent sorting task than during the incongruent sorting task, regardless of the ordering of these tasks. Bars represent mean ± standard error. Asterisks indicate a significant (<i>p</i><0.05) difference between the bars for the congruent and incongruent tasks.</p

ERP in Response to the Parallel Lines Oddball Task, 380 ms post-stimulus.

<p>380 ms after stimulus presentation, amplitude at site F8 is relatively more negative after the deviant stimulus (B), as compared to the standard stimulus (A). Amplitude at site Pz is relatively more positive after the deviant stimulus (D), compared to the standard stimulus (C).</p