Pike (Esox lucius L.) and Some Other Aquatic Organisms in Sweden as Indicators of Mercury Contamination in the Environment
- 1 January 1967
- Vol. 18 (2) , 323-+
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3565108
Abstract
Activation analysis of Hg content in axial musculature of pike (E. lucius) was used as a means of estimating the level of mercury present in the water environment. The concentration factor from water to pike is of the order 3000 or more. The relation between Hg content and weight and age of fish specimens is discussed. By a graphical method the values for Hg content for specimens representing 1 kg. of weight were calculated for a number of localities and used for geographical comparison. The effect of industrial contamination is demonstrated by a comparison of Hg content of samples of pike from above and below localities, where emission of waste water containing Hg takes place. There are strong indications that Hg appears also as an airborne pollution affecting the water environment. A number of sources of Hg contamination are discussed. It is concluded that in many areas human activities has raised the Hg content of the environment far above the natural levels.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mercury Content in Feathers of Swedish Birds from the Past 100 YearsOikos, 1966
- Determination of Methylmercury Compounds in Foodstuffs. I. Methylmercury Compounds in Fish; Identification and Determination.Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 1966
- Simultaneous Determination of Mercury and Arsenic in Biological and Organic Materials by Activation Analysis.Analytical Chemistry, 1964
- Bioaccumulation of Radioisotopes through Aquatic Food ChainsEcology, 1958