Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada
Background: Fish are often rich in essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) and selenium (Se), and thus can promote health. However, methylmercury (MeHg), a contaminant found in many species in the Canadian subarctic, can pose potential health risks. Fish consumption is important t...
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University of Waterloo
2016
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ftunivwaterloo:oai:uwspace.uwaterloo.ca:10012/10320 2023-05-15T15:47:18+02:00 Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada Reyes, Ellen Stephanie 2016-02-03 http://hdl.handle.net/10012/10320 en eng University of Waterloo http://hdl.handle.net/10012/10320 Mercury Omega-3 fatty acids Selenium Risk assessment Probabilistic modelling Dose reconstruction Biomonitoring Aboriginal health Master Thesis 2016 ftunivwaterloo 2022-06-18T23:00:42Z Background: Fish are often rich in essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) and selenium (Se), and thus can promote health. However, methylmercury (MeHg), a contaminant found in many species in the Canadian subarctic, can pose potential health risks. Fish consumption is important to traditional diets because these foods have nutritional, social, and cultural benefits. Objectives: The objectives for this study are to: 1) determine the concentrations of mercury (Hg), n-3 FAs, and Se in various freshwater fish species harvested from three lakes in the Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories (NWT); 2) evaluate the correlations between nutrient and Hg concentrations; 3) identify which fish species have the highest nutrient levels relative to their Hg content; 4) utilize a probabilistic optimization software (Crystal Ball’s OptQuest) to inform dietary recommendations that mitigate risks of Hg exposure and promote human health from traditional food consumption. Methods: Samples from seven freshwater fish species [Burbot (Lota lota), Cisco (Coregonus artedi), Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus), Northern Pike (Esox Lucius), and Walleye samples (Sander vitreus)] were harvested in August 2013 from Ekali, Sanguez, and Trout Lakes in the NWT. The laboratory analysis for Hg involved freeze drying the tissue muscle samples prior to analysis and quantifying Hg in the samples by a direct mercury analyzer; n-3 FAs levels were determined by a lipid extraction on pulverized fish tissue and measured by a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector; and Se levels were determined by a tissue digestion and measured by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer. Thereafter, a probabilistic optimization method was assessed using OptQuest, a feature in Crystal Ball (Oracle). Results: The average total Hg (HgT) concentrations varied among fish species according to their trophic guild, from 0.057 mg kg-1 for ... Master Thesis Burbot Catostomus catostomus Longnose sucker Lota lota Northwest Territories Subarctic lota University of Waterloo, Canada: Institutional Repository Canada Dehcho Region ENVELOPE(-121.350,-121.350,61.857,61.857) Namaycush Lake ENVELOPE(-108.367,-108.367,70.808,70.808) Northwest Territories |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Waterloo, Canada: Institutional Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwaterloo |
language |
English |
topic |
Mercury Omega-3 fatty acids Selenium Risk assessment Probabilistic modelling Dose reconstruction Biomonitoring Aboriginal health |
spellingShingle |
Mercury Omega-3 fatty acids Selenium Risk assessment Probabilistic modelling Dose reconstruction Biomonitoring Aboriginal health Reyes, Ellen Stephanie Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada |
topic_facet |
Mercury Omega-3 fatty acids Selenium Risk assessment Probabilistic modelling Dose reconstruction Biomonitoring Aboriginal health |
description |
Background: Fish are often rich in essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) and selenium (Se), and thus can promote health. However, methylmercury (MeHg), a contaminant found in many species in the Canadian subarctic, can pose potential health risks. Fish consumption is important to traditional diets because these foods have nutritional, social, and cultural benefits. Objectives: The objectives for this study are to: 1) determine the concentrations of mercury (Hg), n-3 FAs, and Se in various freshwater fish species harvested from three lakes in the Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories (NWT); 2) evaluate the correlations between nutrient and Hg concentrations; 3) identify which fish species have the highest nutrient levels relative to their Hg content; 4) utilize a probabilistic optimization software (Crystal Ball’s OptQuest) to inform dietary recommendations that mitigate risks of Hg exposure and promote human health from traditional food consumption. Methods: Samples from seven freshwater fish species [Burbot (Lota lota), Cisco (Coregonus artedi), Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus), Northern Pike (Esox Lucius), and Walleye samples (Sander vitreus)] were harvested in August 2013 from Ekali, Sanguez, and Trout Lakes in the NWT. The laboratory analysis for Hg involved freeze drying the tissue muscle samples prior to analysis and quantifying Hg in the samples by a direct mercury analyzer; n-3 FAs levels were determined by a lipid extraction on pulverized fish tissue and measured by a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector; and Se levels were determined by a tissue digestion and measured by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer. Thereafter, a probabilistic optimization method was assessed using OptQuest, a feature in Crystal Ball (Oracle). Results: The average total Hg (HgT) concentrations varied among fish species according to their trophic guild, from 0.057 mg kg-1 for ... |
format |
Master Thesis |
author |
Reyes, Ellen Stephanie |
author_facet |
Reyes, Ellen Stephanie |
author_sort |
Reyes, Ellen Stephanie |
title |
Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada |
title_short |
Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada |
title_full |
Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessing Mercury Risks for the Optimization of Nutrient Benefits from Wild-harvested Fish Consumption in the Northwest Territories, Canada |
title_sort |
assessing mercury risks for the optimization of nutrient benefits from wild-harvested fish consumption in the northwest territories, canada |
publisher |
University of Waterloo |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10012/10320 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-121.350,-121.350,61.857,61.857) ENVELOPE(-108.367,-108.367,70.808,70.808) |
geographic |
Canada Dehcho Region Namaycush Lake Northwest Territories |
geographic_facet |
Canada Dehcho Region Namaycush Lake Northwest Territories |
genre |
Burbot Catostomus catostomus Longnose sucker Lota lota Northwest Territories Subarctic lota |
genre_facet |
Burbot Catostomus catostomus Longnose sucker Lota lota Northwest Territories Subarctic lota |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10012/10320 |
_version_ |
1766382088836087808 |