Mercury in sediment and fish from North Mississippi Lakes

Sediments and/or fish were collected from Sardis, Enid and Grenada Lakes, which are located in three different watersheds in North Mississippi, in order to assess mercury contamination. The mean total mercury concentration in sediments from Enid Lake in 1997 was 0.154 mg Hg/kg, while 1998 sediment c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2001-03, Vol.42 (8), p.923-929
Main Authors: Huggett, D.B., Steevens, J.A., Allgood, J.C., Lutken, C.B., Grace, C.A., Benson, W.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Aquatic
Child
Diet
Environmental Monitoring
Fishes
Food Contamination
Freshwater
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Hazard
Health Policy
Human health
Humans
Mercury
Mercury - analysis
Mississippi
Public Health
Risk Assessment
Tissue Distribution
USA, Mississippi
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:Sediments and/or fish were collected from Sardis, Enid and Grenada Lakes, which are located in three different watersheds in North Mississippi, in order to assess mercury contamination. The mean total mercury concentration in sediments from Enid Lake in 1997 was 0.154 mg Hg/kg, while 1998 sediment concentrations in Sardis, Enid and Grenada Lakes were 0.112, 0.088 and 0.133 mg Hg/kg, respectively. Sediment mercury concentrations in 1999 were similar in all three lakes but, generally lower than 1998. Mean total mercury concentrations in edible fillets of fish collected from Enid Lake in 1998 were above the human health FDA action level (>1.0 mg Hg/kg) for bass (1.40), crappie (1.69) and gar (1.89); however, tissue concentrations were less than 1.0 mg Hg/kg in carp (0.63) and catfish (0.82). Human hazard indexes for each species was ⩾1 for both adults and children, indicating that there is a potential for toxic effects to occur. In addition, calculated consumption limits indicate that adults may consume 4–12 oz. of fish per month, depending on the species consumed. For children, 2 oz. per month may be consumed. Further studies are needed to determine the exact environmental consequences and human health impacts associated with mercury contamination in North Mississippi and the Southeastern United States.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/S0045-6535(00)00175-2