Mercury sublethal

Thus, there is not a great deal of difference between the three classes in acute toxicity all are highly toxic. However, methyl mercury is more persistent than the other two types, and so has the greater potential to cause chronic toxicity. The latter point is important when considering the possibility of sublethal effects. 

Calabrese A, Thurberg FP, Dawson MA, WenzlofF DR. 1975. Sublethal physiological stress induced by cadmium and mercury in the winter flounder (Pseudoplumnectes amer-icanus). In Koeman JH, Strik JJ, editors, Sublethal effects of toxic chemicals on aquatic animals. Amsterdam Elsevier. 

Calabrese, A., F.R Thurberg, M.A. Dawson, and D.R. Wenzloff. 1975. Sublethal physiological stress induced by cadmium and mercury in winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus. Pages 15-21 in J.H. Koeman and J.J.T.W.A. Strik (eds.). Sublethal Effects of Toxic Chemicals on Aquatic Animals, Elsevier Sci. Publ. Co., Amsterdam. 

Sublethal effects of mercury on birds, administered by a variety of routes, included adverse effects on growth, development, reproduction, blood and tissue chemistry, metabolism, and behavior. Histopathology and bioaccumulation were also noted. 

Halbrook, R.S., J.H. Jenkins, P.B. Bush, and N.D. Seabolt. 1994. Sublethal concentrations of mercury in river otters monitoring environmental contamination. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 27 306-310. 

Verma, S.R. and I.P. Tonk. 1983. Effect of sublethal concentrations of mercury on the composition of liver, muscles and ovary of Notopterus notopterus. Water Air Soil Pollut. 20 287-292. 

Sublethal concentrations of zinc, cadmium and mercury in the culture medium inhibit both respiration and photosynthesis in the green alga Euglena (De Filippis et al., 1981 b). Photosynthesis probably is one of the most metal-sensitive processes of plant metabolism. In consequence, this aspect will be treated extensively. 

The presence of mercury in fish, thermometers, dental amalgams, vaccine preservatives, and the atmosphere has increased public health concerns about adverse health effects in humans exposed to relatively low levels of mercury. The lack of a clear correlation between mechanistic research on mercury toxicity and sublethal non-cytotoxic effects and lack of consideration of mercury-induced immunotoxicily as an important health outcome have limited the application of science-based risk assessment on this issue (Silbergeld Devine, 2000). 

Sivaramakrishna, B., Radhakrishnaiah, K 1995. Mercury accumulation in lepatopancreas and foot of Pila globosa (snail) and Lamellidens marginalis (mussel) at lethal and sublethal concentrations. Proc. Ind. Natl. Sci. Acad. 61, 437-440. 

Several studies have been undertaken to report the levels of inorganic mercury having lethal or sublethal effects on fish. The lethal concentrations ranged from... 

Significant sublethal effects of mercury include an increased frequency of cancers, birth defects, and chromosomal aberrations in laboratory animals and wildlife. Adverse sublethal effects of mercurials also include growth inhibition, abnormal reproduction, histopathology, high mercury accumulations and persistence, and disrupted biochemistry, metabolism, and behavior. These - and other aspects of exposure to various mercurials by living organisms - are documented and discussed for representative species of bacteria and other microorganisms, aquatic and terrestrial plants and invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, birds, and mammals. 

Sublethal concentrations of mercury are known to adversely affect aquatic fauna through inhibition of reproduction, reduction in growth rate, increased frequency of tissue histopathology, impairment of ability to capture prey, impairment of olfactory receptor function, alterations in blood chemistry and enzyme activities, and disruption of thyroid function, chloride secretion, and other metabolic and biochemical functions. 

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