Abstract
The distribution of mercury in the muscle and other tissues was determined in 23 species of fishes and invertebrates. This study reveals species-specific patterns of mercury accumulation in the muscle of tuna and alfonsino. Consistently high levels of total mercury were found in Beryx splendens (0.78±0.56 μg/g), Atlantic Thunnus thynnus (0.42±0.06 μg/g), Pacific T. thynnus (0.59±0.34 μg/g), Thunnus obesus (0.98±0.34 μg/g), Makaira nigricans (0.56±0.05 μg/g), Tetraptrus audax (0.51±0.08 μg/g), and Xiphias gladius (0.47±0.24 μg/g). Other fish species had lower levels of total mercury or methylmercury in muscle than the maximum permitted level of mercury in fish in Japan (0.4 μg/g). Total mercury and methylmercury levels in the muscles of T. thynnus, T. obesus, and B. splendens were closely correlated with body weight.
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Yamashita, Y., Omura, Y. & Okazaki, E. Total mercury and methylmercury levels in commercially important fishes in Japan. Fish Sci 71, 1029–1035 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1444-2906.2005.01060.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1444-2906.2005.01060.x