Partitioning of mercury in the north Saskatchewan River

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Chemosphere; (United States)

OSTI ID:7145003

Mercury levels in fish, water and sediments were determined during 1982 along a 600 km stretch of the North Saskatchewan River (NSR) in the province of Alberta. Migratory fish species such as goldeye, walleye, and sauger in the NSR were found to contain total mercury levels ranging from 0.104 to 1.553 mg/kg (mean greater than or equal to 0 5 mg/kg). Northern pike, white sucker, longnose sucker and northern redhorse sucker had total mercury levels ranging from 0.003 to 1.003 mg/kg. Regression analysis of the data revealed that neither the sex of the fish nor the location of the sampling site contributed significantly to the mercury burden in fish in the entire study section of the river. Sediment analysis showed a low and more or less uniform concentration of mercury in Alberta. The total mercury in NSR water averaged 0.09 ..mu..g/L in upstream Edmonton and was found to elevate in downstream NSR (0.22 ..mu..g/L) near industrial discharge sites and agriculture runoff areas. Calculated partition coefficients seem to group the fish into two categories, (i) goldeye, walleye, and sauger (bioconcentration factor (BCF) = 3-3.7x10/sup 3/) and (ii) northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and northern redhorse sucker (BCF=1.2-1.8x10/sup 3/).

• OSTI ID: 7145003
• Journal Information: Chemosphere; (United States), Journal Name: Chemosphere; (United States) Vol. 14:10; ISSN CMSHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALBERTA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CANADA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISTRIBUTION
FISHES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METHYLMERCURY
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES