ENVI 1401 Name Marleen Beltran
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Instructor: Mitra Otanloo Section 2003
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A Case Study Examining Mercury
Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
Answer Sheet- 100 pts
Please answer the following questions based of what you have learned so far, the “How Does
Mercury Get into Fish” video, and the “Mercury” study case and submit it in D2L. If you have
difficulty showing your charts with Word, you can draw it with pen on paper, take a clear
picture, and attach the picture to the Word document or upload separately. Copy-Paste from
internet will not be accepted.
Important terms:
Bioaccumulation: Accumulation of mercury in each individual species over span of its life
resulting in a higher concentration in older individuals.
Biomagnification: Accumulation of the mercury in species from all the organisms on its lower
food web levels resulting in higher concentration in apex predators.
Questions for Parts I & II:
1. What is in some fish and shellfish that has caused the EPA and FDA to issue the restriction? (2
pts)
Mercury can be found in some types of fish and shellfish
2. Why is there a restriction for pregnant women and young children, but not the rest of the
population? (5 pts)
There is a restriction because of high levels of mercury exposure you can find in certain fish can
cause health risks for unborn babies, pregnant woman, nursing mothers and young children
3. Do pregnant women have to avoid all fish? Explain your answer. (5 pts)
Not all fish have the same amount of mercury levels, for example, some fish that are low in
mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna and salmon. On the other hand fish like shark, swordfish
and tilefish should be avoided for the high levels of mercury that they contain.
4. Should Amanda have avoided the pan-seared tuna for lunch? (3 pts) Amanda shouldn’t
completely avoid tuna, but should control the quantity eaten by only 6 ounces or (one average
meal) per week.
Questions for Part III:
1. What human actions lead to increased mercury levels in the environment? (5 pts)
The main human action of mercury pollution is the burning of coal, which is a natural
contaminant of mercury. Mercury rises up into the atmosphere, where the mercury is
deposited into the rain or deposited from the sky falling into our soil and water.
2. How does the mercury end up in human body? Draw a flow chart following the mercury path
from release to the environment to entering to human body. (10 pts). If you have difficulty
showing your chart with Word, you can draw it with pen on paper, take a clear picture, and
attach the picture to the Word document or upload separately.
3. Which states in the United States have high level of mercury wet deposition? Why? How do
you explain this pattern? (10 pts)
Florida and Missouri have the highest level of mercury, using the chart I was able to identify
because of the colors. Orange being the highest level and green the lowest level, but not too
sure how to explain the pattern.
4. The EPA criterion for human health is 0.3 µg/g. Based on the USGS report, which fish species
have average mercury concentrations that exceed the EPA limits? (5 pts)
Smallmouth bass has an average mercury concentration, but largemouth bass and spotted bass
exceed the average mercury concentration.
5. The concern level for piscivorous (fish-eating) mammals is 0.1 Hg µg/g. Based on USGS report,
which fish species have average mercury concentrations that exceed this limit? Why is the
mercury level for piscivorous mammals lower than the level for human health? (5 pts)
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, spotted bass and pumpkinseed exceed the limit.
I believe it is lower for human health because those species eat other fishes that may contain
mercury, causing it to have a higher level of mercury.
6. Should you be concerned about mercury toxicity if you catch and eat a largemouth bass in a
local lake? Why or why not? (5 pts)
I think you should be concerned because we have no idea how much mercury is in the fish.
7. In the USGS research report, in which samples were mercury concentrations the highest (fish,
streams, or sediment)? Why do you think this is? (5 pts)
I think sediment would have high mercury concentrations.
Questions for Part IV:
1. Draw a food pyramid (like the one in chapter 3) showing the trophic levels of organisms for
Lake Washington using the species and food preferences given in Table 3 of the case study.
Start with phytoplankton (algae) as the base of your web and then build up the food chain. (20
pts) If you have difficulty showing your chart with Word, you can draw it with pen on paper, take a clear
picture, and attach the picture to the Word document or upload separately.
2. Label all the (Table 3) species in your food chain as either high (>100 µg/kg), medium (20-100
µg/kg), or low (below20 µg/kg) mercury concentrations.
Which types of animals have the highest levels of mercury? Which types of animals have the
lowest? Why do you think this is? (20 pts)
