Bioaccumulation of mercury in fish as indicator of water pollution

Abstract

The mercury content is studied in fish from the European Russian lakes and rivers. The results revealed significant accumulation of mercury in fish as the uppermost trophic level of aquatic ecosystems even at extremely low (<10 ng/L) content of this element in water. The maximum accumulation was found in the predatory fishes from Middle and Lower Volga, Severnaya Dvina, and small lakes subjected to anthropogenic air pollution. The influence of temperature and geochemical factors on the penetrative ability of mercury in a fish organism is considered.