Mercury Concentration in Frozen Whole-Fish Homogenates Is Insensitive to Holding Time

Current recommended holding times for the analysis of total mercury (Hg) in fish tissue ranges from 28 to 180 days. In 2006, we evaluated the effect of an extended holding time on Hg concentrations by reanalyzing whole-fish wet homogenates that were analyzed originally in 2002 and had been stored fr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 2007-10, Vol.53 (3), p.411-417
Main Authors: Peterson, Spencer A, Peck, David V, Van Sickle, John, Hughes, Robert M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
CAAS mercury analysis
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
EMAP
Fish tissue
Fishes - metabolism
Freezing
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Mercury
Mercury - analysis
Pisces
Pre-analysis holding time
Time Factors
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:Current recommended holding times for the analysis of total mercury (Hg) in fish tissue ranges from 28 to 180 days. In 2006, we evaluated the effect of an extended holding time on Hg concentrations by reanalyzing whole-fish wet homogenates that were analyzed originally in 2002 and had been stored frozen at -20°C since that time. Seven species, 13-15 samples each, were reanalyzed. Comparisons of concentration differences between 2006 and 2002 indicated that no statistically significant changes in Hg concentrations occurred in any of the seven fish species. These results indicate that wet fish tissue homogenates can be held frozen for at least four years without affecting analytical results, thus extending holding times far beyond those currently recommended.
ISSN:0090-4341
1432-0703
DOI:10.1007/s00244-006-0237-6