BIOACCUMLATION STUDY MERCURY RESIDUES IN FISH TISSUE

Abstract

The bioaccumulation study is an outgrowth. of the EPA's National Dioxin Study concerned with. assessing contamination from 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) in soil, water, sediment and fish tissue. Phase 2 of this program involves investigation of the degree of contamination of environmental samples by other pollutants with. emphasis on organic chemicals. The University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS) is reanalyzing fish. tissue samples collected as a part of the National Dioxin Study which contained detectable levels of 2,3,7,8- TCDD. One of the pollutants under investigation is mercury which is known to bioaccumulate in food chains. Mercury is widespread in the environment and is of particular concern when present in organic alkyl mercury forms such as methyl mercury.