Determination of methyl-, ethyl-, phenyl and total mercury in Neckar River fish.
Methyl-, ethyl- and phenyl mercury, total mercury and fat content were determined in fish fillet of the five different fish species: eel, perch, roach, chub and barbel. The organo mercury compounds were extracted according to a modified Westöö method and determined by using HPLC-cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometrie. Total mercury was determined according to EPA/AOAC. Total mercury in fish tissue varied between 16 and 812 micrograms/kg, methyl mercury between 10 and 770 micrograms/kg. It was found that at least 83% of total mercury is present as methyl mercury. Only a barbel exceeded the German maximum acceptable residue limit (500 micrograms/kg) with 812 micrograms/kg total mercury.
Institut für Sedimentforschung, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Falter
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Schöler
D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D010663:Phenylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D010663:Phenylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury