Mercury In Flesh Research Articles

Mercury, cadmium and lead in eels and roach: The effects of size, season and locality on metal concentrations in flesh and liver

Mercury, cadmium and lead were measured in the liver and flesh of 885 eels and 338 roach collected from four sites on the Rivers Brett and Chelmer, eastern England, over the period November 1985 to November 1987. Concentrations of metals in liver and flesh of both species were highly correlated at all sites. Generally, mercury in flesh and liver was correlated with fish length in both species. There were fewer significant relationships between length and the concentrations of cadmium and lead. Site differences in mean concentrations were recorded. Seasonal variations in metal concentrations were largely restricted to eels from the more polluted Site 4. The significance of the concentrations of metals to the status of the fishery is discussed.

Heavy metal pollution from a point source demonstrated by means of mussels, [formula omitted][formula omitted

Heavy metal pollution from a point source has been demonstrated by the levels of mercury in flesh of mussels, Mytilus edulis .

Methylmercury as percentage of total mercury in flesh and viscera of salmon and sea trout of various ages.

The proportion of methylmercury to total mercury in the flesh of salmon (Salmo salar) 1 to 7 years old and sea trout (Salmo ocla) 1 and 2 years old was found to average 93 percent with a range of 81 to 98 percent, and to be independent of the age of the fish. In salmon and sea trout 1 and 2 years old, methylmercury constituted 26 to 67 percent of the total visceral mercury, without age dependence.

Distribution of Mercury in Pheasant Muscle and Feathers

One hundred forty-eight pheasants (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) from Idaho were tested by neutron activation analysis at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, in August 1979 to check for possible mercury contamination. Seventy-five percent showed detectable mercury, 35% showed greater than 0.5 ppm, and 2.7% (four birds) exceeded 5.0 parts per million in muscle tissue. On the hypothesis that feathers might provide a monitor of mercury levels in birds, a check for correlations between mercury in flesh and feathers was made on 48 of the test birds. Ninety-one percent of the feather samples had mercury present if the corresponding muscle sample had mercury present. Seven feather samples had mercury present when the corresponding muscle samples showed no detectable mercury. Six birds were without detectable mercury in flesh or feathers. In 18 muscle samples exceeding 1.0 ppm mercury, only one corresponding feather sample had a higher mercury concentration. Mercury levels in muscle appeared to cluster around three significantly different means: 0.276, 1.425, and 4.78 ppm. Corresponding mercury levels in feathers show greater variances that are associated with the lower levels of tissue mercury. 12 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.

Environmental contamination by mercury (Hg series No. 13). 2. Inorganic and organic mercury in river bottom mud and river fish

The author conducted the survey for mercury on the bottom mud and fish in the Oyabe River, as well as fish in other control and contaminated rivers in Japan.1. Total mercury content in the bottom mud of the Oyabe River was higher in the industrial area on the lower stream, than in the upper stream area.It may be attributed to previous contamination by waste water from factories.2. The results of three different surveys over a two year period (196869) revealed that the average level of total mercury in flesh of the Oyabe River's fish was 0.77ppm.The bottom-living Namazu (Catfish) showed the highest concentration among fish, i.e. 1.10ppm of total mercury and 0.66ppm of methylmercury.3. There was a considerable amount of mercury even in the fish of non-contaminated rivers, and the higher the total mercury concentration, the higher the level of organic mercury. Generally speaking the mercury level in river fish was higher than that of marine fish.4. Fish in the Hono River and the Shokotsu Rivers which are flowing in a mercury mine area showed particularly high levels of mercury.5. In fish of several rivers, ethyl mercury was also found, the Ugui (Dace) of the Jinzu River contained an extraordinary high level of ethyl-mercury.The cause of this contamination has as yet not been determined.