Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Levels of Mercury in Muscle and Liver of Star-Spotted Dogfish (Mustelus manazo) from the Northern Region of Japan: A Comparison with Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We analyzed mercury (Hg) concentrations in muscle and liver samples of star-spotted dogfish (Mustelus manazo) caught off the northern region of Japan and compared them with those of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) caught in the same region. The average body length of male star-spotted dogfish specimens was significantly smaller than that of female specimens, reflecting the slower growth rate of male fish. Hg concentrations in liver and muscle increased with increases in body length and estimated age of both male and female star-spotted dogfish specimens. However, the relationships between Hg concentration in liver or muscle and body length or estimated age of male specimens differed markedly from those of female specimens, reflecting differences in growth rate and cessation of growth on reaching maturity. Marked increases in Hg concentration in liver of male and female star-spotted dogfish specimens were observed slightly later than increases in Hg concentration in muscle of those specimens due to growth cessation. These marked increases in Hg in liver may reflect increases in Hg due to the formation of mercury selenide. Similar results were previously reported in spiny dogfish specimens, except spiny dogfish showed only trace levels of Hg in liver (Endo et al., Chemosphere 77:1333–1337, 2009). The greater lipid content in liver and the larger liver size in spiny dogfish may explain the much lower levels of Hg observed in liver of spiny dogfish compared with those in the star-spotted dogfish.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balshaw S, Edwards JW, Ross KE, Daughtry BJ (2008) Mercury distribution in the muscular tissue of farmed southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is inversely related to the lipid content of tissue. Food Chem 111:616–621

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bisi TL, Lepont G, Azevedo ADF, Dorneles PR, Flach L, Das K et al (2012) Trophic relationships and mercury biomagnification in Brazilian tropical coastal food webs. Ecol Indic 18:291–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Branco V, Vale C, Canário J, dos Santos MN (2007) Mercury and selenium in blue shark (Prionace glauca, K. 1758) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius, L. 1758) from two areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Environ Pollut 150:373–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell LM, Norstrom RJ, Hobson KA, Muir DCG, Backus S, Fisk AT (2005) Mercury and other trace elements in a pelagic Arctic marine food web (Northwater Polynya, Baffin Bay). Sci Total Environ 351–352:247–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Haraguchi K, Sakata M (2002) Mercury and selenium concentrations in the internal organs of toothed whales and dolphins marketed for human consumption in Japan. Sci Total Environ 300:15–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Haraguchi K, Cipriano F, Simmonds MP, Hotta Y, Sakata M (2004) Contamination by mercury and cadmium in the cetacean products from Japanese market. Chemosphere 54:1653–1662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Haraguchi K, Hotta Y, Hisamichi Y, Lavery S, Dalebout ML et al (2005) Total mercury, methyl mercury and selenium levels in the red meat of small cetaceans sold for human consumption in Japan. Environ Sci Technol 3:5703–5708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Hisamichi Y, Haraguchi K, Kato Y, Ohta C, Koga N (2008a) Hg, Zn and Cu levels in the muscle and liver of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan: relationship between metal concentrations and body length. Mar Pollut Bull 56:1774–1780

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Hisamichi Y, Kimura O, Haraguchi K, Baker CS (2008b) Contamination levels of mercury and cadmium in melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) from a mass stranding on the Japanese coast. Sci Total Environ 401:73–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Hisamichi Y, Kimura O, Kotaki Y, Kato Y, Ohta C et al (2009) Contamination levels of mercury in the muscle of female and male of spiny dogfishes (Squalus acanthias) caught off the coast of Japan. Chemosphere 77:1333–1337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester CR, Ketchen KS, Wong CC (1972) Mercury content of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. J Fish Res Board Can 29:1487–1490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greig RA, Wenzloff D, Shelpuk C, Adams A (1977) Mercury concentrations in three species of fish from North Atlantic offshore waters. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 5:315–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haraguchi K, Endo T, Sakata M, Masuda Y (2000) Contamination survey of heavy metals and organochlorine compounds in cetacean products purchased in Japan. J Food Hyg Soc Japan 41:287–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harmelin-Vivien M, Bodiguel X, Charmasson S, Loizeau V, Mellon-Ducal C, Tronczynski J et al (2012) Differential biomagnification of PCB, PBDE, Hg and radiocesium in the food web of the European hake from the NW Mediterranean. Mar Pollut Bull 64:974–983

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hisamichi Y, Haraguchi K, Endo T (2012) Levels of mercury and organohalogen compounds in Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientallis) cultured at different regions of Japan. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62:296–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honda K, Tatsukawa R, Itano K, Miyazaki N, Fujiyama T (1983) Heavy metal concentrations in muscle, liver and kidney tissue of striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, and their variation with body length, weight, age and sex. Agric Biol Chem 47:1219–1228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly JF (2000) Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in the study of avian and mammalian trophic ecology. Can J Zool 78:1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketchen KS (1975) Age and growth of dogfish Squalus acanthias in British Columbia waters. J Fish Res Board Can 32:43–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyle JM (1984) Mercury concentrations in four carcharhinid and three hammerhead sharks from coastal waters of the northern territory. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 35:441–451

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marcovecchi JE, Moreno VJ, Pérez A (1991) Metal accumulation in tissues of sharks from the Bahia Balanca estuary, Argentina. Mar Environ Res 31:263–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli MM, Marcotrigiano GO (2002) Mercury speciation and relationship between mercury and selenium in liver of Galeus melastomus from the Mediterranean Sea. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 69:516–522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taguchi M, Yasuda K, Toda S, Shimizu M (1979) Study of metal contents of elsmobranch fishes: part 1—Metal concentration in the muscle tissue of dogfish Squalus mitsukurii. Mar Environ Res 2:239–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka A, Mizue K (1979) Studies on sharks. XV. Age and growth of Japanese dogfish Mustelus manazo bleeker in the East China Sea. Bull Japan Soc Sci Fish 45:43–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taniuchi T, Kuroda N, Nose Y (1983) Age, growth and reproduction and food habits of star-spotted dogfish Mustelus manazo collected from Choshi. Bull Japan Soc Sci Fish 49:1325–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tayasu I, Hirasawa R, Ogawa NO, Ohkouchi N, Yamada K (2011) New organic reference materials for carbon- and nitrogen-stable isotope ratio measurements provided by Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, and Institute of Biogeosciences, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. Limnology 12:261–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Grants No. B24310049 and C21590135). Stable isotope analyses were performed using a Joint Use/Research Grant of Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University (Kyoto, Japan).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan

    Tetsuya Endo, Yohsuke Hisamichi & Osamu Kimura

  2. Sapporo Higashi-Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0033, Japan

    Hideki Ogasawara

  3. Faculty of Nutritional Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Fukuoka, 814-0198, Japan

    Chiho Ohta & Nobuyuki Koga

  4. Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Sanuki, Kagawa, 769-2193, Japan

    Yoshihisa Kato

  5. Daiichi College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, 815-8511, Japan

    Koichi Haraguchi

Authors
  1. Tetsuya Endo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yohsuke Hisamichi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Osamu Kimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hideki Ogasawara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chiho Ohta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nobuyuki Koga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yoshihisa Kato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Koichi Haraguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tetsuya Endo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Endo, T., Hisamichi, Y., Kimura, O. et al. Levels of Mercury in Muscle and Liver of Star-Spotted Dogfish (Mustelus manazo) from the Northern Region of Japan: A Comparison with Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 64, 467–474 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-012-9858-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-012-9858-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation