ALBERT

Description:    The aim of this work was to assess the relationship between mercury concentrations in the blood with that in muscle for non-invasive mercury contamination assessment in fish. At Ribeira Bay were collected 198 fishes of 4 species ( Genidens genidens , Arius luniscutis , Haemulon steindachneri, Micropogonias furnieri ). At Guanabara Bay were collected 84 fishes of 2 species ( Genidens genidens , Micropogonias furnieri ). Means of mercury concentrations in fish muscles in both areas were below 500 ng/g. The mean ratio, including all specimens of all species, for mercury in muscle-to-whole blood was 13.4:1, for muscle-to-erythrocytes, 6.5:1 and for erythrocytes-to-plasma, 6.5:1. Further studies are necessary to insure that blood could be used as an exposure biomarker, in order to assess mercury availability in aquatic ecosystems. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0228-9 Authors Ana Paula de Castro Rodrigues, Department of Geochemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n, 24020-150 Niterói, RJ Brazil Patrícia Oliveira Maciel, School of Veterinary, Fluminense Federal University, R. Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brazil Luiz César Cavalcanti Pereira da Silva, School of Veterinary, Fluminense Federal University, R. Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brazil Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny, School of Veterinary, Fluminense Federal University, R. Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brazil José Vanderli Andreata, Laboratory of Fish Ecology, Santa Úrsula University, R. Fernando Ferrari, 75, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Edison Dausacker Bidone, Department of Geochemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n, 24020-150 Niterói, RJ Brazil Zuleica Carmen Castilhos, Centre for Mineral Technology, Av. Pedro Calmon, 900, 21941-908 Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861