Mercury and methyl mercury concentration in sediment, benthic, Barbus Grypus and pelagic, Barbus esocinus fish species, from Musa estuary, Iran

Abstract

The concentrations of mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in sediment and tissues of <em>Barbus grypus</em> and <em>Barbus esocinus</em> fish species from Musa estuary, north part of the Persian Gulf, were measured. The order of Hg and MeHg concentrations in the sediment and tissues of the fish species was as follows: liver > gill > muscle > sediment. In the tissues of two fish species, the Hg and MeHg concentrations were highest in liver whereas lowest in the muscle. In the sediment, mean concentrations of Hg and MeHg were 0.83 and 0.437 µg g−1. Mean concentrations of Hg and MeHg in <em>B. grypus</em> were 1.2–0.624 µg g−1 and in all tissues of <em>B. esocinus</em> were 0.75 and 0.421 µg g−1. Significant correlation between heavy metal concentration in sediment and fish may be related to high variability of heavy metal in the sediment.