Concentration of mercury by three species of fish from Japanese rivers

Abstract

THE concentration of mercury in aquatic organisms is quite high relative to that in the surroundings but the exact mechanism by which this effect occurs is not known. Generally, higher mercury levels in the environment are reflected in the amount found in protoplasm. Mercury levels in rivers and lakes have increased markedly as a result of industrial discharges; thus, there is a proportionality between mercury concentrations in fishes and in waters, it is possible, using permissible mercury concentrations in fish tissue as a guide (Japan 0.4, US 0.5 p.p.m.), to make recommendations for acceptable mercury levels in lakes and rivers. I have found no reports regarding this relationship.