Mercury and selenium concentrations in sharks from northern Australian waters

1986 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 309 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Lyle
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Sphyrna Lewini ◽  
Weighted Means ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
Function Relationship

Total mercury, alkyl mercury and selenium concentrations in the muscle tissue of 15 carcharhinid (Carcharhinus sp., C. limbatus, C. sorrah, C. fitzroyensis, C. amblyrhynchoides, C. melanopterus, C. cautus, C. amboinensis, C. macloti, C. dussumieri, C. brevipinna, Rhizoprionodon acutus, R. taylori, Galeocerdo cuvieri, Negaprion acutidens) and three hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini, S. mokarran and S. blochii) sharks from northern Australian waters are reported. Total mercury concentrations ranged widely with maximum individual concentrations exceeding 1.5 mg kg-1 wet weight in 11 species and values of over 3.0 mg kg-1 in Carcharhinus sp., C. amblyrhynchoides, C. melanopterus, C. amboinensis and S. mokarran. Much of the variability in total mercury concentration was attributable to differences in length. Total mercury was adequately correlated with fork length by the power function relationship. There were signficiant differences in these relationships for males and females of six species: males had higher concentrations of mercury than females of the same size. Weighted mean mercury concentrations were calculated using species and size composition data from commercial feasibility fishing trials. Weighted means for species other than C. sorrah, C. macloti, C. brevipinna and C. dussumieri were greater than 0.5 mg kg-1 and the value for the combined catch of all species was 1.22 mg kg-1. Alkyl mercury comprised over 80% of the total mercury content in the muscle tissue. Maximum individual selenium concentrations were greater than 1.0 mg kg-1 in nine species and the maximum concentration recorded was 3.4 mg kg-1 for C. dussumieri. There were no obvious or consistent relationships between selenium concentration and fork length or between selenium and mercury concentrations.

scholarly journals Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) farmed in the Adriatic Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 175-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Srebocan ◽  
J. Pompe-Gotal ◽  
A. Prevendar-Crnic ◽  
E. Ofner
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Liver Tissue ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Commission Decision ◽  
Wet Weight

Levels of total mercury in the muscle (29 samples) and liver tissue (15 samples) of bluefin tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i>) weighing 100&minus;300 kg were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy. Tunas were previously captured in the waters of Malta, towed to the farm in the Adriatic Sea and fattened with defrosted herring and sardine for the period of 6 to 7 months. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the magnitude of mercury contamination and to ascertain whether the concentrations in muscle tissue exceeded the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision (1 &mu;g/g wet weight). Total mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of tunas ranged from 0.49 to 1.809 (median 0.899 &mu;g/g wet weight) while in the liver tissue it was from 0.324 to 3.248 (median 1.165 &mu;g/g wet weight). Total mercury concentrations in six samples of sardine ranged from 0.050 to 0.072 &mu;g/g wet weight while two samples of herring contained 0.020 and 0.053 &mu;g/g wet weight. Twelve out of 29 (41%) muscle samples of tuna contained mercury above the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision. It is generally believed that mercury levels in Mediterranean fish are higher than those of the other seas or oceans due to numerous deposits of mercury ores and metallic mercury in surrounding countries.

Mercury content of edible flesh from snapper, Chrysophrys auratus (Bloch & Schneider), in the Victorian commercial catch

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
TI Walker
Keyword(s):  
Mercury Concentration ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Total Weight ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Commercial Catch ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Statutory Limit

The concentrations of total mercury (range 0.1-1.5 �g /g) in 40 individual snapper, C. auratus, caught in two commercial fishing areas in Victorian waters were adequately correlated with fork length by a power-law relationship. From further relationships established between length and total weight, and between filleted weight and total weight, the mean mercury concentration in the edible flesh of this species was estimated for each of the six years (1973-78) for which information on the length-frequency distribution was available for the Victorian commercial catch. The annual estimates ranged from 0.47 to 0.52 �g/g wet weight, and 45-52% of the edible flesh had values exceeding the Victorian statutory limit of 0.5 �g/g. Various management options available to health and fisheries agencies are discussed, and the methods of calculating the important parameters corresponding to these options are described. For example, graphs are presented from which can be read a legal maximum length of landed snapper, designed to reduce the mean mercury concentration of the catch to below a nominated level.

Effects of species, sex, length and locality on the mercury content of school shark Galeorhinus australis (Macleay) and gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus Guenther from south-eastern Australian waters

1976 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
TI Walker
Keyword(s):  
Total Mercury ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Muscle Tissues ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mean

The mercury levels detected in the muscle tissues of sharks ranged from 0.01 to 2.7 pprn wet weight for school shark Galeorhinus australis (Macleay) and from 0.07 to 3.0 ppm for gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus Guenther. Estimates of the mean mercury levels for the 1971 Victorian landed commercial shark catch were found to be 0.90 ppm for the school shark and 0.37 ppm for the gummy shark. The analyses for total mercury determinations were carried out by five independent laboratories. Preliminary analyses carried out by one indicatcd that most of the mercury in school sharks and about two-thirds of the mercury in gummy sharks was present as methylmercury. The mercury concentrations varied exponentially with shark length. School sharks had statistically significantly higher mercury levels than gummy sharks of the same length and for both the medium- sized and large individuals of each species males had significantly higher levels than females. Levels in male gummy sharks were found to be affected by locality.

scholarly journals Total Mercury and Methylmercury Contamination in Fish from Sites along the Elbe River

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Maršálek ◽  
Z. Svobodová ◽  
T. Randák
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Perca Fluviatilis ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Abramis Brama ◽  
Elbe River ◽  
Barbus Barbus ◽  
Muscle Tissues ◽  
The Elbe River ◽  
Leuciscus Cephalus

The aim of the study was to evaluate total mercury Hg and methylmercury MeHg contamination in muscle tissues of fish collected in 2002 from the Labe (Elbe) river at sites upstream of Pardubice and downstream of Pardubice and Hřensko, and in 2004 from the Labe river upstream and downstream of the Spolana factory in Neratovice, and from the Vltava river downstream of Lenora. Eighty eight fish of the following species were sampled: bream (Abramis brama L.), perch (Perca fluviatilis L.), chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.) and barbel (Barbus barbus L.). Total mercury content in chub, perch and bream was in the range of 0.05 - 1.96 mg kg-1 w.w., 0. 09 - 1.46 mg kg-1 w.w. and 0.35 - 0.82 mg kg-1 w.w., respectively. Methylmercury content in chub, perch and bream was in the range of 0.04 - 2.11 mg kg-1 w.w., 0.1 - 1.73 mg kg-1 w.w. and 0.371 - 0.650 mg kg-1 w.w., respectively. Significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between contents of THg and MeHg and both the weight and the age of fish. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between THg and MeHg contents were found between individual sites. In 2002, for example, the most contaminated fish were found downstream of Pardubice, followed by fish from upstream of Pardubice and from Hřensko. In 2004, fish from downstream and upstream of the Spolana factory in Neratovice were more contaminated than fish from the Vltava river downstream of Lenora. The methylmercury-tototal mercury ratio in muscle tissue was close to 1.0.

The Pollution of Minamata Bay by Mercury

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fujiki ◽  
S. Tajima
Keyword(s):  
Waste Water ◽  
Mercury Concentration ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Mercury Oxide ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
Minamata Bay ◽  
Very High

Minamata Disease, methylmercury poisoning, was recognized late in 1953 among the inhabitants living around Minamata Bay. In a chemical factory situated near Minamata Bay, acetaldehyde had been synthesized by the hydration of acetylene till 1968; in the reaction mercury oxide dissolved in sulfuric acid had been used as a catalyst. Inorganic mercury in waste water from the acetaldehyde plant had been discharged into the bay and it had accumulated into bottom sediment. It was proved that a part of inorganic mercury used as the catalyst had changed into methylmercury by a sidereaction in the plant and waste water containing methylmercury from the plant had discharged into the bay and methylmercury had accumulated into the fishes. The mercury concentrations in the muds were very high: in 1963, 29~713 ppm (dry weight); in 1969, 19~908 ppm (dry weight); in 1970, 8~253 ppm (dry weight) and in 1971, 14~586 ppm (dry weight). Since 1977, dredging work had been carried out to remove mercury-contaminated mud and all of the work had finished at March 1990. The concentration of mercury in fishes from the bay was very high in 1959: shellfishes 108~178 ppm (dry weight) and fish 15 ppm (wet weight). Mercury concentration in fishes has decreased markedly since 1966. Total mercury concentration in fishes (87 species) were 0.01~1.74 ppm (wet weight) and fishes containing over 0.4 ppm of total mercury were 16 species in 1989. The hair of patients contained a high concentration of mercury, the highest being 705 ppm. In 1968, the average mercury concentration in patients was 10.6 ppm, for fishermen, the average was 9.2 ppm, and for general inhabitants, the average was 8.1 ppm. In 1982, the average methylmercury concentration in fishermen was 6.15 ppm and for general inhabitants, the averge was 3.78 ppm. Thus, the mercury content in hair decreased gradually with time. After treatment of mercury in waste water was initiated, the mercury content in fishes from Minamta Bay was gradually reduced. It is necessary to supervise strictly to avoid mercury pollution of the environment.

Mercury in Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) From the Bay of Fundy Region

1972 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1644-1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Gaskin ◽  
K. Ishida ◽  
R. Frank
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Liver Tissue ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Total Hg ◽  
Made In

During 1969–71, 41 muscle and 20 liver samples were collected from harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Bay of Fundy region. These tissues were analyzed for total mercury content. Total Hg levels ranged from 0.21 to 1.92 ppm (average 0.75) in muscle tissue of males and from 0.26 to 2.58 ppm(average 1.02) in muscle tissue of females; from 0.89 to 18.30 ppm in liver tissue of males and from 0.55 to 91.30 ppm in liver tissue of females. Averages for the two latter series would be meaningless. A limited number (four muscle and six liver samples) of determinations of the methylated fraction were also made. In the muscle, Hg was virtually 100% methylated; in the liver the methylated fraction varied from 7.4 to 41%, being lowest in livers with highest total Hg.

Assessment of caudal fin clip as a non-lethal technique for predicting muscle tissue mercury concentrations in largemouth bass

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Ryba ◽  
J. L. Lake ◽  
J. R. Serbst ◽  
A. D. Libby ◽  
S. Ayvazian
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Mercury Contamination ◽  
Caudal Fin ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Fish Consumption Advisories ◽  
Relationship Of

Environmental context. In the development of fish consumption advisories, fisheries biologists routinely sacrifice fish and analyse muscle fillets in order to determine the extent of mercury contamination. Such lethal techniques may not be suitable for endangered species or limited fish populations from smaller-sized water bodies. We compared the measured total mercury concentrations in tail fin clips to that of muscle fillets and illustrated that tail fin clips may be used as an accurate tool for predicting mercury in muscle tissue. This is the first study on the use of tail fin clips to predict mercury levels in the muscle tissue of largemouth bass with minimal impact on the fish. Abstract. The statistical relationship between total mercury (Hg) concentration in clips from the caudal fin and muscle tissue of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from 26 freshwater sites in Rhode Island, USA was developed and evaluated to determine the utility of fin clip analysis as a non-lethal and convenient method for predicting mercury concentrations in tissues. The relationship of total Hg concentrations in fin clips and muscle tissue showed an r2 of 0.85 and may be compared with an r2 of 0.89 for Hg concentrations between scales and muscle tissue that was determined in a previous study on largemouth bass. The Hg concentration in fin clip samples (mean = 0.261 μg g–1 (dry)) was more than a factor of twenty greater than in the scale samples (mean = 0.012 μg g–1 (dry)). Therefore, fin clips may be a more responsive non-lethal predictor of muscle-Hg concentrations than scale in fish species which may have reduced Hg concentrations.

On the Chemical Form of Mercury in Edible Fish and Marine Invertebrate Tissue

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1010-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas S. Bloom
Keyword(s):  
Total Mercury ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Marine Invertebrate ◽  
Chemical Form ◽  
Weight Basis ◽  
Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry ◽  
Atomic Fluorescence ◽  
Saltwater Fish ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
Wet Weight

Total mercury, monomethylmercury (CH3Hg), and dimethylmercury ((CH3)2Hg) in edible muscle were examined in 229 samples, representing seven freshwater and eight saltwater fish species and several species of marine invertebrates using ultraclean techniques. Total mercury was determined by hot HNO3/H2SO4/BrClldigestion, SnCl2 reduction, purging onto gold, and analysis by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). Methylmercury was determined by KOH/methanol digestion using aqueous phase ethylation, cryogenic gas chromatography, and CVAFS detection. Total mercury and CH3Hg concentrations varied from 0.011 to 2.78 μg∙g−1 (wet weight basis, as Hg) for all samples, while no sample contained detectable (CH3)2Hg (<0.001 μg∙g−1 as Hg). The observed proportion of total mercury (as CH3Hg) ranged from 69 to 132%, with a relative standard deviation for quintuplicate analysis of about 10%; nearly all of this variability can be explained by the analytical variability of total mercury and CH3Hg. Poorly homogenized samples showed greater variability, primarily because total mercury and CH3Hg were measured on separate aliquots, which vary in mercury concentration, not speciation. I conclude that for all species studied, virtually ail (>95%) of the mercury present is as CH3Hg and that past reports of substantially lower CH3Hg fractions may have been biased by analytical and homogeneity variability.

scholarly journals Mercury content in the wool of domestic animals in Cherepovets

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Sergeevna Bachina ◽  
Olga Yurievna Rumiantseva ◽  
Elena Sergeevna Ivanova ◽  
Viktor Trofimovic Komov ◽  
Marina Andreevna Guseva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mercury Concentration ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Average Content ◽  
Comparison Analysis ◽  
Vologda Region ◽  
Total Mercury Concentration ◽  
Mercury Analyzer

Mercury (Hg) and its compounds are considered as one of the ten major dangerous groups of chemicals. The content of mercury in the coat was 136 cats and 113 dogs in the territory of the Vologda Region in Cherepovets. The total mercury concentration in the wool samples was measured on a mercury analyzer RA-915 +. The values of the mercury index in cats range from less than 0,001 mg / kg to 13,00 mg / kg, in dogs from less than 0,001 mg / kg to 1,858 mg / kg. Statistical difference in the content of mercury in wool between cats and dogs was revealed. The Hg content in cats is 3,5 times higher than the dogs have. Comparison analysis showed the concentration of mercury in the wool of cats and dogs have no statistically significant differences. The authors noted that cats had 4 times more mercury who ate fish. The average content of Hg in the wool of dogs is slightly different for those who ate fish.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document