Beddington, GN; Mackay, NJ; Chvojka, R; Williams, RJ; Dunn, A; Auty, EH
HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Results of a survey of metal levels in 9 spp. (Acanthopagrus australis, Platycephalus fuscus, Mugil cephalus, Chrysophris auratus, Pomatomus saltatrix, Sciaena antarctica, Seriola grandis, Arripis trutta and Thunnus albacares) of important commercial fish from New South Wales (Australia) waters are reported. Muscle samples from 20-30 individuals of each species were analyzed for Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn. Eight to 12 individuals of each species were analyzed for Se and As. Of the 232 fish analyzed, 231 had concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn below the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) standards for these elements in foodstuffs. Several specimens of bream, snapper, mulloway, kingfish, Australian salmon and yellowfin tuna had total Hg concentrations in excess of the NHMRC standard of 0.5 ppm. These fish accounted fortotal number sampled. None of the sea mullet, flathead and tailor sampled exceeded the standard for Hg. The Hg in all species sampled occurred almost entirely as methyl mercury. Of the 95 fish analyzed for As and Se, 20 fish (21%) had As concentrations equal to or greater than the NHMRC standard for Se. The health risks associated with the presence of Hg and As in these species are discussed.