Mercury concentrations in commercial fish species of Lake Phewa, Nepal

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2013 Sep;91(3):272-7. doi: 10.1007/s00128-013-1055-y. Epub 2013 Jul 10.

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in four commercial fish species (Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, Spiny Eel Mastacembelus armatus, African catfish Clarias gariepinus, and Sahar Tor putitora), were investigated in Lake Phewa, Nepal. Mean values of total mercury (THg mg kg(-1), ww) in these fishes were 0.02, 0.07, 0.05, and 0.12 respectively. Methylmercury contributed 82 % of THg. The lowest value was detected in O. niloticus, an exclusive plant feeder. The biomagnification rate of Hg through the fish community was 0.041 per δ(15)N (‰). The present investigation produced an important baseline data of Hg pollution in the fish community in this region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Environmental Exposure*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Fishes / metabolism*
  • Food Chain
  • Lakes
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mercury / metabolism*
  • Methylmercury Compounds / metabolism*
  • Nepal
  • Species Specificity
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*

Substances

  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Mercury