Experimental evidence for recovery of mercury-contaminated fish populations

Paul J. Blanchfield (), John W. M. Rudd, Lee E. Hrenchuk, Marc Amyot, Christopher L. Babiarz, Ken G. Beaty, R. A. Drew Bodaly, Brian A. Branfireun, Cynthia C. Gilmour, Jennifer A. Graydon, Britt D. Hall, Reed C. Harris, Andrew Heyes, Holger Hintelmann, James P. Hurley, Carol A. Kelly, David P. Krabbenhoft, Steve E. Lindberg, Robert P. Mason, Michael J. Paterson, Cheryl L. Podemski, Ken A. Sandilands, George R. Southworth, Vincent L. Louis, Lori S. Tate and Michael T. Tate
Additional contact information
Paul J. Blanchfield: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
John W. M. Rudd: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
Lee E. Hrenchuk: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
Marc Amyot: Université de Montréal
Christopher L. Babiarz: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ken G. Beaty: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
R. A. Drew Bodaly: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
Brian A. Branfireun: University of Western Ontario
Cynthia C. Gilmour: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Jennifer A. Graydon: University of Alberta
Britt D. Hall: University of Regina
Reed C. Harris: Reed Harris Environmental
Andrew Heyes: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Holger Hintelmann: Trent University
James P. Hurley: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program
Carol A. Kelly: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
David P. Krabbenhoft: US Geological Survey
Steve E. Lindberg: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Robert P. Mason: University of Connecticut
Michael J. Paterson: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
Cheryl L. Podemski: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
Ken A. Sandilands: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
George R. Southworth: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Vincent L. Louis: University of Alberta
Lori S. Tate: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute
Michael T. Tate: US Geological Survey

Nature, 2022, vol. 601, issue 7891, 74-78

Abstract: Abstract Anthropogenic releases of mercury (Hg)1–3 are a human health issue4 because the potent toxicant methylmercury (MeHg), formed primarily by microbial methylation of inorganic Hg in aquatic ecosystems, bioaccumulates to high concentrations in fish consumed by humans5,6. Predicting the efficacy of Hg pollution controls on fish MeHg concentrations is complex because many factors influence the production and bioaccumulation of MeHg7–9. Here we conducted a 15-year whole-ecosystem, single-factor experiment to determine the magnitude and timing of reductions in fish MeHg concentrations following reductions in Hg additions to a boreal lake and its watershed. During the seven-year addition phase, we applied enriched Hg isotopes to increase local Hg wet deposition rates fivefold. The Hg isotopes became increasingly incorporated into the food web as MeHg, predominantly from additions to the lake because most of those in the watershed remained there. Thereafter, isotopic additions were stopped, resulting in an approximately 100% reduction in Hg loading to the lake. The concentration of labelled MeHg quickly decreased by up to 91% in lower trophic level organisms, initiating rapid decreases of 38–76% of MeHg concentration in large-bodied fish populations in eight years. Although Hg loading from watersheds may not decline in step with lowering deposition rates, this experiment clearly demonstrates that any reduction in Hg loadings to lakes, whether from direct deposition or runoff, will have immediate benefits to fish consumers.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04222-7

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