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Mercury in Fish Tissue

Concentrations of Mercury in Bass in Washington

Most mercury contamination in human beings comes from eating contaminated fish.  Mercury from the atmosphere deposits on water and a portion  is transformed into methylmercury which enters the aquatic food chain.  For more on this process, see Metallic Mercury and Mercury Compounds.

During 2005 and 2006, Ecology's Environmental Assessment Program tested largemouth bass  for evidence of mercury contamination as part of their mercury trends program. . Below are two graphs detailing concentrations of mercury in fish in selected water bodies in both 2005 and 2006.  These are baseline levels that will be useful for future trend studies. 

Mercury is bioaccumulative and persistent in living organisms taking a long time to decline. For a related measure, see Historical Deposition of Mercury in Sediment Cores which measures the mercury deposited to freshwater lake systems over time.

Furl et al. 2005 (See publication citation below.)

Link to Environmental Information Management (EIM) data [User Study ID HgFish05]

 

Furl et al. 2007 (See publication citation below.)

Link to EIM data [User Study ID HgFish06]

 Full reports from the Ecology scientists who carried out these studies are available here:

2005 Measuring Mercury Trends publication Citation—Furl, C., K. Seiders, D. Alkire, and C. Deligeannis. 2007. Measuring Mercury Trends in Freshwater Fish in Washington State: 2005 Sampling Results. Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Publication No.07-03-007.

2006 Results Measuring Mercury Trends publication Furl, C. 2007. Measuring Mercury Trends in Freshwater Fish in Washington State: 2006 Sampling Results. Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Publication No.07-03-043.

Related information:

A Comparison of Two Analytical Methods for Measuring Mercury in Fish Tissue
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Measuring Mercury Trends in Freshwater Fish in Washington State
The Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program (PSAMP) is a multi-agency effort monitoring toxic contaminants in sediments and fish throughout Puget Sound.
FAQs about Mercury in Bass
Department of Health fish consumption advisories