Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications

Microcystins (MCs), produced by harmful cyanobacterial blooms, pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health in the Yangtze River basin, including Lake Chaohu, which implemented a ten-year fishing ban in 2021 for ecological restoration. This study provides the first basin-wide assessment of...

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Main Authors: Shengpan Han, Wulai Xia, Jun He, Qianhui Wu, Wenli Xu, Jia Yu, Jun Chen, Ping Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325005214
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author Shengpan Han
Wulai Xia
Jun He
Qianhui Wu
Wenli Xu
Jia Yu
Jun Chen
Ping Xie
author_facet Shengpan Han
Wulai Xia
Jun He
Qianhui Wu
Wenli Xu
Jia Yu
Jun Chen
Ping Xie
author_sort Shengpan Han
collection DOAJ
description Microcystins (MCs), produced by harmful cyanobacterial blooms, pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health in the Yangtze River basin, including Lake Chaohu, which implemented a ten-year fishing ban in 2021 for ecological restoration. This study provides the first basin-wide assessment of MC contamination in fish muscle tissues from Lake Chaohu and its major tributaries during the ban's initial phase (2022–2023), with comparisons to pre-ban data. Using UHPLC-MS/MS, we quantified MC-LR and MC-RR in fish from four trophic levels (planktivorous, omnivorous, herbivorous, and carnivorous). Results revealed that MC-RR was the predominant variant, and planktivorous fish exhibited the highest MC levels, followed by omnivorous, herbivorous, and carnivorous species, reflecting dynamics of trophic transfer. Overall, fish MC concentrations were significantly lower during the ban compared to pre-ban levels, demonstrating positive initial effects. Seasonal analysis revealed higher MC levels in warmer seasons, but detectable MCs persisted during cold seasons, reflecting ongoing contamination. Spatially, while fish in the lake exhibited higher MC concentrations, contamination was also detected in riverine fish, highlighting the basin-wide spread. Despite a lower overall health risk from fish consumption relative to the pre-ban period, high consumption of planktivorous species, especially during warm seasons and in lake regions, may still pose potential health risks. Additionally, MCs likely pose ecological risks to fish populations. These findings provide a crucial baseline for evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the fishing ban and underscore the need for integrated watershed management to safeguard both ecological and public health.
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spelling doaj-art-d412a5a8862c4a3cbb80f9b4c24add792025-08-20T03:13:54ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-05-0129611818510.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118185Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implicationsShengpan Han0Wulai Xia1Jun He2Qianhui Wu3Wenli Xu4Jia Yu5Jun Chen6Ping Xie7Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaDonghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaDonghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; Correspondence to: Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, ChinaDonghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaOcean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066000, ChinaDonghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaDonghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, ChinaMicrocystins (MCs), produced by harmful cyanobacterial blooms, pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health in the Yangtze River basin, including Lake Chaohu, which implemented a ten-year fishing ban in 2021 for ecological restoration. This study provides the first basin-wide assessment of MC contamination in fish muscle tissues from Lake Chaohu and its major tributaries during the ban's initial phase (2022–2023), with comparisons to pre-ban data. Using UHPLC-MS/MS, we quantified MC-LR and MC-RR in fish from four trophic levels (planktivorous, omnivorous, herbivorous, and carnivorous). Results revealed that MC-RR was the predominant variant, and planktivorous fish exhibited the highest MC levels, followed by omnivorous, herbivorous, and carnivorous species, reflecting dynamics of trophic transfer. Overall, fish MC concentrations were significantly lower during the ban compared to pre-ban levels, demonstrating positive initial effects. Seasonal analysis revealed higher MC levels in warmer seasons, but detectable MCs persisted during cold seasons, reflecting ongoing contamination. Spatially, while fish in the lake exhibited higher MC concentrations, contamination was also detected in riverine fish, highlighting the basin-wide spread. Despite a lower overall health risk from fish consumption relative to the pre-ban period, high consumption of planktivorous species, especially during warm seasons and in lake regions, may still pose potential health risks. Additionally, MCs likely pose ecological risks to fish populations. These findings provide a crucial baseline for evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the fishing ban and underscore the need for integrated watershed management to safeguard both ecological and public health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325005214MicrocystinsFishing banSpatiotemporal dynamicsFreshwater fishHealth risksEcological implications
spellingShingle Shengpan Han
Wulai Xia
Jun He
Qianhui Wu
Wenli Xu
Jia Yu
Jun Chen
Ping Xie
Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Microcystins
Fishing ban
Spatiotemporal dynamics
Freshwater fish
Health risks
Ecological implications
title Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications
title_full Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications
title_short Spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the Lake Chaohu basin under the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban: Ecological and human health implications
title_sort spatiotemporal dynamics of microcystin contamination in fish across the lake chaohu basin under the yangtze river ten year fishing ban ecological and human health implications
topic Microcystins
Fishing ban
Spatiotemporal dynamics
Freshwater fish
Health risks
Ecological implications
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325005214
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