Mercury and Methylmercury Concentrations in Muscle Tissue of Fish Caught in Major Rivers of the Czech Republic

Kružíková, Kamila; Randák, Tomáš; Kenšová, Renáta; Kroupová, Hana Kocour; Leontovycova, Drahomira; Svobodová, Zdeňka

doi:10.2754/avb200877040637

Cited by 23 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The THg concentrations found there are comparable with values found at some other locations in the Czech Republic, specifically in the basins of the Elbe River (the Elbe and its tributaries) (Svobodová & Hejtmánek 1978;Žlábek et al 2005;Kružíková et al 2008c) and of the Morava River (Svitava and Svratka Rivers, and Nové Mlýny Water Reservoirs) (Kružíková et al 2008b(Kružíková et al , 2009aKenšová et al 2010). The only exception was the Skalka Water Reservoir because it was polluted with mercurycontaining waste water from a chemical factory for several decades.…”

Section: Comparison Of Thg Tissue Concentrations In Fish From Monitorsupporting

confidence: 78%

Mercury speciation and safety of fish from important fishing locations in the Czech Republic

Kenšová¹,

Kružíková²,

Svobodová³

2012

Czech J. Food Sci.

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Kenšová R., Kružíková K., Svobodová Z. (2012): Mercury speciation and safety of fish from important fishing locations. Czech J. Food Sci., 30: 276-284.The aim of the study was to describe the distribution of total mercury in the tissues of fish originating from important Czech fishing locations and to determine the level of methylmercury as a percentage of total mercury (Hg speciation). At six important fishing locations a total of 144 fishes of 13 species were caught and analysed. Samples of muscle, liver, gonads and scales were analysed for total mercury and in the case of muscles for methylmercury concentrations. Total mercury was determined by AAS using an AMA 254 analyser, and methylmercury determination was performed by GC/ECD using a GC-2010A chromatograph. Total mercury concentrations in muscle and other tissues of all the fish from all fishing locations were below 0.5 mg/kg, with the exception of 6 asps (Aspius aspius). A significant (P < 0.05) correlation was found between the total mercury concentrations in scales and other tissues. Methylmercury made up about 46-100% of total mercury in muscle. The overall results confirmed the good hygienic quality of fish from important Czech fishing locations.

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Section: Comparison Of Thg Tissue Concentrations In Fish From Monitorsupporting

confidence: 78%

Mercury speciation and safety of fish from important fishing locations in the Czech Republic

Kenšová¹,

Kružíková²,

Svobodová³

2012

Czech J. Food Sci.

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“…(Dušek et al 2005;Žlábek et al 2005;, the Ohře, the Vltava, the Morava, and the Sázava (Kružíková et al 2008a). In general, it has been demonstrated that mercury contamination of Czech rivers is low and does not exceed the limit of 0.5 mg·kg -1 FW, which is in agreement with the present study.…”

Section: Total Mercury and Methylmercury In Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of mercury contamination of the Svitava and Svratka rivers and muscle of chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.) in the urban agglomeration of Brno in the Czech Republic

et al. 2011

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This study focused on the total mercury and methylmercury content in the muscle of chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.), the total mercury in the river sediments and the evaluation of health risks associated with fish contamination. Chub were caught at seven localities on the Svratka and Svitava rivers in the agglomeration of Brno in 2008. The results were compared to those obtained from the same sites in 2007. Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using an AMA 245 analyzer, and methylmercury was determined by gas chromatography (using an electron-capture detector) after acid digestion and toluene extraction in chub muscle. The highest concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury (0.12 ± 0.14 and 0.07 ± 0.02 mg·kg -1 fresh weight, respectively) were found in Svratka before junction (south of Brno), whereas the lowest concentration of mercury and methylmercury in chub (0.06 ± 0.01 and 0.04 ± 0.01 mg·kg -1 ) was detected in Svitava before junction with the Svratka River. Total mercury in sediments ranged from 0.01 to 1.05 mg·kg -1 dry weight, the highest value was detected in the sediment from Rajhradice. The lowest content (0.01 mg·kg -1 ) was at Kníničky. Hazard indices calculated for the selected localities showed no health risk for either a standard consumer or a fishing family. Fish from the Svitava and Svratka rivers show very low mercury concentration and hazard index and their consumption poses no health risk from total mercury and methylmercury contamination.

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“…To determine the maximum admissible intake of fish meat, the tolerable weekly intake limit (PTWI) of 1.6 µg of methylmercury per kg body weight per week was used (WHO 1990). This evaluation was based on the fact that methylmercury in freshwater fish muscle makes up about 80-100% of total mercury contained there (Houserová et al 2006;Maršálek et al 2005;Maršálek et al 2007;Kružíková et al 2008). In calculation of the maximum admissible muscle consumption, 100% methylmercury of total mercury was used.…”

Section: Health Hazard Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The highest mercury concentrations in the fish analyzed in our study were found in the muscle tissue, which suggests that the Věstonice reservoir is not significantly contaminated with mercury. Research by Kružíková et al (2008) focused on the amount of total mercury and methylmercury in the muscle tissue of fish from major rivers of the Czech Republic. For example, the study included Dyje and Svratka rivers that may represent an important source of contamination for the Věstonice reservoir.…”

Section: Mercurymentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations of Metals in Tissues of Fish from the Věstonice Reservoir

et al. 2010

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The aim of the present work was to compare the distribution of selected metals in tissues of several fish species caught in the Věstonice reservoir. The hygienic quality of fish meat was assessed with respect to the mercury concentration. A total of 35 fish of the following species were caught: carp (Cyprinus carpio), bream (Abramis brama), asp (Aspius aspius), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and pike (Esox lucius). Samples of muscle, liver (hepatopancreas), kidney, gonads and gills were analyzed. Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Cr concentrations in fish tissues were determined by the AAS. The results showed that different metals differ in their affinity to different fish tissues (e.g. Cu -liver, Cd -kidney). Mercury concentrations along the food chain increase, i.e. higher mercury concentrations are found in predatory fish. Contrary to mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations do not show any increases along the fish part of food chain in surface water ecosystems. In predatory fish, lower concentrations of these metals were found than in nonpredatory fish species. Differences in concentrations between ovaria and testes were found only in Cu and Zn. To evaluate possible health risks of mercury concentrations for consumers, the risk index was calculated and maximum admissible amounts of muscle meat for consumption were determined. The results confirmed good hygienic quality of market-ready fish from the Věstonice reservoir. Predatory fish, non-predatory fish, heavy metals, AAS, risk indexThe rising living standards of human population take their toll in increasing loads to the environment with various contaminating substances that occur naturally at very low concentrations, or do not naturally occur at all. Besides metal manufacturing and processing, the sources of environmental metal contamination include industrial waste products, the burning of fossil fuels, and the use of metals by consumers. The increase in metal concentrations in the environment is further enhanced by their poor degradability resulting in metal accumulation in the soil, water sediments and the food chain (Svobodová et al. 1987).As the final link of the food chain in the aquatic environment, fish are an important indicator of contamination by a number of substances, including metals (Svobodová et al. 1996). Moreover, toxic metal concentrations in fish are monitored also in terms of food safety (Svobodová et al. 2004). First and foremost, the most closely monitored potentially toxic metals include mercury followed by cadmium and lead. In recent years, food safety has been a priority in EU member states. Hence, the large number of regulations targeting veterinary food hygiene that are being adopted mainly by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other organisations. At present, hygienic limits are determined by the highest acceptable levels of contaminants in foodstuffs in the Commission Regulation 1881/2006/EC as amended and Decrees 68/2005 Sb. and 305/2004 Sb. of the Ministry of Health. As far as fish as food animals are concerned, the m...

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Mercury and Methylmercury Concentrations in Muscle Tissue of Fish Caught in Major Rivers of the Czech Republic

Cited by 23 publications

References 13 publications

Mercury speciation and safety of fish from important fishing locations in the Czech Republic

Mercury speciation and safety of fish from important fishing locations in the Czech Republic

Assessment of mercury contamination of the Svitava and Svratka rivers and muscle of chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.) in the urban agglomeration of Brno in the Czech Republic

Concentrations of Metals in Tissues of Fish from the Věstonice Reservoir

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