Abstract
Total mercury concentrations in different tissues of frigate tuna fish (Auxis thazard thazard) was determined by the cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry technique using an automatic mercury analyzer. A mixture of HNO3, HClO4 and H(2)SO(4) was used for complete oxidation of organic tissue. The concentration of mercury obtained was in the order Gills < Stomach < Gonads < Intestine < Heart < Duodenum < Liver < Muscle. The concentration of total mercury detected in the edible muscle tissue of the tuna fish tested ranged from 0.044 to 0.201 microg g(-1) (mean = 0.108 microg g(-1)) wet weight. These levels are all within the maximum allowed/recommended level in fish (0.5 mug g(-1) wet weight) set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO) and are therefore unlikely to constitute any significant mercury exposure to the general population because of consumption of tuna fish. The results of the study suggest a relatively clean marine environment that has not been significantly impacted by mercury contamination probably due to minimal industrial activity in the region.
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