Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 31 No. (1-4), 1999.
Professional paper
Fish- an indicator of an eco-system mercury contamination
Dinko Puntarić
Jasna Bošnir
Zdenko Šmit
Željka Capuder
Abstract
The presence of total and organic mercury was analyzed in 115 sea fish samples originating from 6 different countries. The mean content of total mercury and organic mercury in pooled samples was 111±100 |ig/kg and 95±87 jig/kg (85.6%) respectively. The measured amount of mercury did not exceed the maximal allowed level of 500 |J.g/kg for total and 400 (ig/kg for organic mercury in any of the samples examined. The highest values of total mercury (119± 111 (ig/kg) and organic mercury (103±96 |J.g/kg; 86,6%) were found in bathypelagic fish. According to the mean annual per capita fish consumption in each particular country, results of the study showed the mean weekly mercury intake to be highest in Spain (49,8 |0,g), and lowest in Croatia (19 jig). Considering the present mean fish consumption, the maximal allowed mercury intake per week of 300 jj.g total mercury was far from being approached in any of these countries. In conclusion, given the present conditions of mercury content and mean annual consumption, dietary use of sea-fish can still be recommended.
Keywords
Eco-system- contamination; Fish; Mercury
Hrčak ID:
191971
URI
Publication date:
1.12.1999.
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