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Mercury Contanimants in Commercial and Recreational Finfish of
Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island
(2006 - Present)
Investigator:
David Taylor, Roger Williams University
Mentor: Diane
Nacci, Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract:
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic environmental contaminant affecting human
health, and exposure occurs mainly via dietary uptake of contaminated
fish. To minimize exposure, state agencies issue advisories for the
consumption of marine fish that are species-specific, but not
geographically-specific. The latter assumes that coastal fish
contamination reflects large scale lifetime movement patterns rather
than local Hg contamination. However, Hg contaminants in local
fisheries may be predictable if causative factors are taken into
account, e.g., spatial variation in Hg pollution from locally- and
distantly-derived sources, dietary differences among fish species and
across their various life stages, and residence time within water bodies
of interest. Thus, research focusing on marine ecology and
environmental chemistry is needed to support the development of models
describing relationships between bioavailable Hg and local fish
contamination. This investigation will focus on
Narragansett Bay,
RI, where local fisheries are important dietary and
commercial resources for denizens of the state. RI land use/watershed
characteristics and potential point sources of Hg will be correlated
with measured values of Hg from site-specific collections of sediment
and certain marine fish and invertebrate species. These data will be
used within the framework of a geographic information system to create
predictive models and analyze spatial relationships between RI land use
and watershed characteristics, Hg pollution, and contamination in the
marine food web. These empirical models will be evaluated and refined
to include spatial and mechanistic factors underlying Hg bioaccumulation
in marine fish, as determined by environmental Hg levels and food web
analyses. Finally, models predicting Hg levels in commercially and
recreationally important finfish will be tested against measured Hg
levels in locally-consumed fish, provided by anglers and local
commercial fish markets. The outcome of this research will be improved
accuracy in the assessment of the risks to human health of marine fish
consumption.
Publications
2008 - 2009
Chen, C., Amirbahman, A., Fisher, N., Harding, G., Lamborg, C., Nacci, D.,
*Taylor, D.L. 2009. Marine ecosystems: Spatial patterns and processes of
production, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. EcoHealth, Epub 2008
Nov 18.
Presentations
2008 - 2009
Helming, S.A., *Taylor, D.L., O'Shea, S.K. 2008. Factors influencing
bioaccumulation of trace heavy metals by the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis).
235th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April
6-10.
*Linehan, J.L., *Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2008.
Effects of feeding ecology and diet history on mercury bioaccumulation in
temperate flatfishes. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Annual Meeting, Bar Harbor, ME, June 4-6.
*Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Effects of feeding
ecology and diet history on mercury bioaccumulation in temperate
flatfishes. 37th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Providence, RI, April
9-13.
*Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Mercury
biomagnification and trophic transfer in temperate flatfishes. Flatfish
Biology Conference, Westbrook, CT, December 3-4.
*Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Mercury
concentration in tautog (Tautoga onitis) in Narragansett Bay (Rhode
Island) as a function of fish length, age, and trophic status. 37th Annual
Benthic Ecology Meeting, Providence, RI, April 9-13.
*Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Bioaccumulation
and trophic transfer of mercury in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and
tautog (Tautoga onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI. Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting, Bar Harbor, ME, June 4-6.
*Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Bioaccumulation
and trophic transfer of mercury in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and
tautog (Tautoga onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI. Southern New England
Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting, Storrs, CT, June 11.
*Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. The influence of
size, age, trophic level, and local sediment conditions on mercury
bioaccumulation in age-0 benthic fish. 37th Annual Benthic Ecology
Meeting, Providence, RI, April 9-13.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Bioaccumulation
of mercury in young-of-the-year estuarine fish. Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting, Bar Harbor, ME, June 4-6.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Bioaccumulation
of mercury in young-of-the-year estuarine fish. Southern New England
Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting, Storrs, CT, June 11.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2009. Life-long mercury
accumulation rates of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, in a New England
estuary. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Winter Meeting, Bristol, RI, January 14.
*Taylor, D.L. 2008. Trophic transfer of mercury in a
benthic versus pelagic food web as revealed by stable isotope analysis.
Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting, Providence, RI, April 9-13.
*Taylor, D.L. 2008. Stable isotope analysis reveals
differences in mercury bioaccumulation rates in benthic versus pelagic
estuarine food webs. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Annual Meeting, Bar Harbor, ME, June 4-6.
*Taylor, D.L. 2008. Mercury bioaccumulation in
benthic and pelagic estuarine fishes relative to their nitrogen and carbon
isotope signatures. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries
Society Meeting, Storrs, CT, June 11.
*Taylor, D.L., *Piraino, M.N., *Payne, E.J., *Linehan,
J.C., Szczebak, J.T. 2008. Mercury exposure for Rhode Island residents
consuming local fishery resources. 2nd Biennial National IDeA Symposium of
Biomedical Research Excellence, Washington D.C., August 6-8.
*Taylor, D.L., *Piraino, M.N., *Payne, E.J., *Linehan,
J.C., Szczebak, J.T. 2008. Mercury bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in
estuarine fish of Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA). 2nd Biennial
National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence, Washington
D.C., August 6-8.
*Taylor, D.L., *Piraino, M.N., *Payne, E.J., *Linehan,
J.C., Szczebak, J.T. 2009. Mercury exposure for Rhode Island residents
consuming local fishery resources. Southern New England Chapter of the
American Fisheries Society Winter Meeting, Bristol, RI, January 14.
2007 - 2008
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Correlation
analysis of young-of-the-year winter flounder, bluefish, and tautog in
relation to the effects of bioavailable mercury concentrations in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Southern New England Chapter of the
American Fisheries Society, Kingston, RI, June 27.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Trace metal analysis of a benthic food chain in Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island. North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry, Bristol, RI, June 13-15.
Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI,
November 4-8.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Factors influencing bioaccumulation of trace heavy metals by the
blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). The 6th Annual New England
Environmental Research Symposium, Bridgewater, MA, November 10.
*Taylor, D.L. 2007. Bioaccumulation of total mercury
in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Biology New England South Undergraduate Research Meeting, Bristol, RI,
November 30.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2008. Factors influencing bioaccumulation of trace heavy metals by the
blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Southern New England Chapter of the American
Fisheries Society, Leominster, MA, January 9.
Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. Biology New England South Undergraduate Research
Meeting, Bristol, RI, November 30.
McKeton, K., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. The utilization of
reef-ball artificial structures for fish habitat restoration in Mount Hope
Bay, RI. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society,
Leominster, MA, January 9.
Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2008. Effects of feeding
ecology and diet history on mercury bioaccumulation in temperate
flatfishes. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries
Society, Leominster, MA, January 9.
Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. Rhode Island Centers of Biomedical Research
Excellence & IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Symposium,
Providence, RI, May 30.
Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
bioaccumulation rates in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI, and the potential implications to human
health. RI-EPSCOR Undergraduate Center for Marine Life Sciences, Bristol,
RI, August 9.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Correlation
analysis of young-of-the-year winter flounder, bluefish, and tautog in
relation to the effects of bioavailable mercury concentrations in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. RI-EPSCOR Undergraduate Center for Marine
Life Sciences, Bristol, RI, August 9.
*Taylor, D.L. 2007. Bioaccumulation of total mercury
in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Northeast Regional Meeting of IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research
Excellence and Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence, Burlington, VT,
August 15-17.
Pohl, K., Tammi, K., *Taylor, D.L.
2007. Implementing the remote set technique for oyster restoration
using artificial reefs structures in Mount Hope Bay, RI. Southern New
England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Kingston, RI, June 27.
Payne. E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. Northeast Regional Meeting of IDeA Networks of
Biomedical Research Excellence and Centers for Biomedical Research
Excellence, Burlington, VT, August 15-17.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Correlation
analysis of young-of-the-year winter flounder, bluefish, and tautog in
relation to the effects of bioavailable mercury concentrations in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Estuarine Research Federation, Providence,
RI, November 4-8.
Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
bioaccumulation rates in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI, and the potential implications to human
health. Rhode Island Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence & IDeA
Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Symposium, Providence, RI, May
30.
Daigle, N., McKeton, K., *Taylor, D.L., Tammi, K.
2007. Monitoring of fish and invertebrates on an artificial reef in Mount
Hope Bay, RI. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries
Society, Kingston, RI, June 27.
Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
bioaccumulation rates in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI, and the potential implications to human
health. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society,
Kingston, RI, June 27.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Trace metal analysis of a benthic food chain in Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island. Rhode Island Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence &
IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Symposium, Providence, RI,
May 30.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Correlation
analysis of young-of-the-year winter flounder, bluefish, and tautog in
relation to the effects of bioavailable mercury concentrations in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Rhode Island Centers of Biomedical
Research Excellence & IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence
Symposium, Providence, RI, May 30.
Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. Southern New England Chapter of the American
Fisheries Society, Kingston, RI, June 27.
McKeton, K., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Monitoring of fish
and invertebrates on an artificial reef in Mount Hope Bay, RI. RI-EPSCOR
Undergraduate Center for Marine Life Sciences, Bristol, RI, August 9.
Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
bioaccumulation rates in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI, and the potential implications to human
health. Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI, November 4-8.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Factors influencing bioaccumulation of trace heavy metals by the
blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Biology New England South Undergraduate
Research Meeting, Bristol, RI, November 30.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2008. Factors influencing bioaccumulation of trace heavy metals by the
blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). American Chemical Society National Meeting,
New Orleans, LA, April 6-10.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Trace metal analysis of a benthic food chain in Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island. Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries
Society, Kingston, RI, June 27.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Trace metal analysis of a benthic food chain in Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island. RI-EPSCOR Undergraduate Center for Marine Life Sciences,
Bristol, RI, August 9.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Correlation
analysis of young-of-the-year winter flounder, bluefish, and tautog in
relation to the effects of bioavailable mercury concentrations in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Northeast Regional Meeting of IDeA
Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence and Centers for Biomedical
Research Excellence, Burlington, VT, August 15-17.
Pohl, K.A., Tammi, K.A., Wilson, M., Marino, K.,
*Taylor, D.L., Scott, T. 2007. Implementing the remote set technique for
oyster restoration using artificial reefs structures in Mount Hope Bay,
RI. Biology New England South Undergraduate Research Meeting, Bristol, RI,
November 30.
Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
bioaccumulation rates in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI, and the potential implications to human
health. North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry, Bristol, RI, June 13-15.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Correlation
analysis of young-of-the-year winter flounder, bluefish, and tautog in
relation to the effects of bioavailable mercury concentrations in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Bristol, RI, June 13-15.
*Taylor, D.L. 2007. Bioaccumulation of total mercury
in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Kingston,
RI, June 27.
Payne. E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Bristol, RI, June 13-15.
*Taylor, D.L. 2007. Bioaccumulation of total mercury
in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, Bristol, RI, June 13-15.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Trace metal analysis of a benthic food chain in Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island. Northeast Regional Meeting of IDeA Networks of Biomedical
Research Excellence and Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence,
Burlington, VT, August 15-17.
McKeton, K., *Taylor, D.L., Daigle, N., Tammi, K.
2007. The utilization of reef-ball artificial structures for fish habitat
restoration in Mount Hope Bay, RI. Biology New England South Undergraduate
Research Meeting, Bristol, RI, November 30.
*Taylor, D.L. 2007. Bioaccumulation of total mercury
in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence & IDeA Network of
Biomedical Research Excellence Symposium, Providence, RI, May 30.
Payne, E.J., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Variability in the
total mercury concentrations of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) found in
Narragansett Bay, RI. RI-EPSCOR Undergraduate Center for Marine Life
Sciences, Bristol, RI, August 9.
Piraino, M.N., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
bioaccumulation rates in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) in Narragansett Bay, RI, and the potential implications to human
health. Northeast Regional Meeting of IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research
Excellence and Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence, Burlington, VT,
August 15-17.
Helming, S.A., Ho, L.F., *Taylor, D.L., O’Shea, S.K.
2007. Trace metal analysis of a benthic food chain in Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island. Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI, November 4-8.
*Taylor, D.L. 2007. Bioaccumulation of total mercury
in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI, November 4-8.
Szczebak, J.T., *Taylor, D.L. 2007. Mercury
accumulation in age-0 finfish from Narragansett Bay, RI. Biology New
England South Undergraduate Research Meeting, Bristol, RI, November 30.
2006 - 2007
Taylor, D.L., Fate and bioavailability of mercury in
aquatic ecosystems and effects on human exposure. Mercury Workshop,
Durham, NH, November 15-16, 2006.
Taylor, D.L.*, Helming, S., Bioaccumulation of heavy
metals. Environmental Research Symposium, Bridgewater, MA, November 12,
2006. |
