The determination of mercury in fish

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10934528209375032· OSTI ID:6712094

Sullivan, J R; Delfino, J J

An acid digestion method followed by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the determination of mercury in fish is described. Sample portions are weighed into partial reflux tubes and digested with a H/sub 2/SO/sub 4//HNO/sub 3/ mixture. Hydrogen peroxide is added to facilitate complete destruction of organic matter. Sample digestion is performed using a Technicon/sup TM/ GD-40 Block Digestor held at 265/sup 0/C for up to 75 min. After digestion KMnO/sub 4/ is added to insure complete oxidation of Hg to Hg(II). Good precision and accuracy are observed based on replicate analyses of NBS reference materials and also spikes of CH/sub 3/HgCl solution added to fish tissue homogenates. The detection limit is 0.01 ..mu..g Hg/g fish tissue. The concentrations of Hg in fish collected from Wisconsin waters have generally decreased since 1970 after a Hg discharge control program was initiated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
• OSTI ID: 6712094
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States), Vol. A17:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MERCURY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
WISCONSIN
WATER POLLUTION
CONCENTRATION RATIO
FISHES
MEASURING METHODS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SPECTROSCOPY
USA
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)