Mercury concentration in fish from Smith Mountain Lake. [Monroe saxatilis; Mirropterus salmoides; Ictalurus punctatus]
- Ferrum College, VA (United States)
Mercury levels were determined in fish taken from Smith Mountain Lake, a 20,000 acre pump-storage reservoir in southwestern Virginia. Striped bass (Monroe saxatilis), largemouth bass (Mirropterus salmoides), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were collected during 1987 and 1988 by personnel from Ferrum College and the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. A total of 51 fish were analyzed for mercury at Ferrum College. Mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy using the cold vapor technique. The overall mean mercury concentration was 50 ppb, five percent of the FDA standard of 1 ppm (1,000 ppb). When grouped by species, the bass had significantly higher tissue concentrations of mercury than the catfish. Mean concentrations were 58 ppb and 29 ppb, respectively. The fish were also sorted by weight and a significant correlation between weight and tissue concentration of mercury was observed in both species of bass but not for catfish.
- OSTI ID:
- 5534436
- Journal Information:
- Virginia Journal of Science; (United States), Journal Name: Virginia Journal of Science; (United States) Vol. 41:4B; ISSN VJSCA; ISSN 0042-658X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTAMINATION
CORRELATIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EVALUATION
FISHES
LAKES
MERCURY
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
VIRGINIA
WATER POLLUTION
WEIGHT