title: Mercury speciation in fish muscles from major Czech rivers and assessment of health risks.
abstract: The aim of this work was to determine the mercury and methylmercury content in muscle tissue of chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.), to assess the health risks of eating the fish and to determine the number of fish meat servings that are suitable for weekly consumption. Total mercury concentrations were determined using a single-purpose atomic absorption spectrophotometer AMA 254. Methylmercury concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The location where the highest total mercury concentrations in fish muscle tissues were found was the Vltava - Vraňany (0.236±0.1001mg/kg(-1)), and the highest methylmercury concentration was found at the Labe - Obříství (0.231±0.1056mg/kg(-1)). The conclusion based on the data ascertained is that the locations from which the lowest number of fish meat servings can be eaten are the Vltava - Vraňany and the Labe - Obříství. The results of this study helped evaluate contamination levels of rivers that flow out of the Czech Republic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1/3, Brno 61242, Czech Republic. Electronic address: lensedl@email.cz.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sedláčková
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1/3, Brno 61242, Czech Republic. Electronic address: novotnak@vfu.cz.
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kružíková
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1/3, Brno 61242, Czech Republic. Electronic address: svobodovaz@vfu.cz.
authors.forename: Zdeňka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Svobodová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018153:Czech Republic; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006262:Health; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D045483:Rivers; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Hazard index; Leuciscus cephalus L.; Methylmercury; Total mercury