Mercury and selenium concentrations in fish, sediments, and water of two northwestern Quebec lakes

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01608134· OSTI ID:6703109

Speyer, M R

Research report:In an effort to learn more about mercury in the aquatic ecosystem and about possible ways to moderate the toxicity of mercury accumulated by aquatic organisms, sediment and water samples from Lake Dufault and Lake Duparquet in the Rouyn-Naranda region of Quebec were analyzed. Both mercury and selenium concentrations in muscle tissue of northern pike (Esox lucius) were determined. Significant differences between the mercury and selenium levels in fish from the two lakes were reported. Fish samples from Lake Dufault had low mercury concentrations but elevated levels of selenium. Fish samples from Lake Duparquet, however, had elevated mercury levels and low selenium levels. Elevated mercury levels were present in sediment samples from both lakes. Mercury and selenium levels in water samples from both lakes were at or below analytical detection limits. (15 references, 3 tables)

• Research Organization: Noranda Research Centre, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 6703109
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 24:3; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CANADA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FISHES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAKES
MERCURY
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUEBEC
SEDIMENTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
WATER