Content and chemical form of mercury and selenium in Lake Ontario salmon and trout

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(84)71859-4· OSTI ID:6382004

Cappon, C J

The content and chemical form of mercury and selenium were determined in the edible tissue of salmon (coho, chinook) and trout (lake, brown) taken offshore from Lake Ontario near Rochester, New York. For all species, total mercury content ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 micro g/g (fresh-weight), which is similar to concentrations commonly found in canned tuna. Most of the total mercury (63 to 79%) was present as methylmercury, the remainder being divalent inorganic mercury. For all species, 6 to 45% of the total selenium content was present as selenate (SeVI), the remainder being selenite (SeIV) and selenide (SEII). On a molar basis, total selenium content usually exceeded that of total mercury. Samples of smoked and unsmoked brown trout fillets were also examined. Based on the results of this study there is no immediate human health hazard from mercury and selenium. However, there is a need to report specific forms of these metals in Lake Ontario salmonid fish so that elevated concentrations can be better evaluated. 42 references, 1 figure, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Rochester Univ., NY
• OSTI ID: 6382004
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Vol. 10:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MERCURY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
SELENIUM
LAKE ONTARIO
METHYLMERCURY
QUANTITY RATIO
SALMON
SELENATES
SELENIDES
SELENITES
TROUT
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
FISHES
GREAT LAKES
LAKES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)