Microscopy & Microtechniques

Accurate Analysis of Low Levels of Mercury in Fish Using Vapour Generation AA

Author: Hazel Dickson on behalf of Thermo Scientific

Free to read

This article has been unlocked and is ready to read.

Download

Mercury is a toxic environmental pollutant that can be deadly to humans. It is found in three different forms: the metallic element, inorganic salts and organic compounds. Elemental mercury can be released into the
atmosphere by natural occurrences such as volcanic eruptions, but the majority is produced by human activities. It has been estimated that coal fired power plants, waste incineration, metal processing and cement
production produce approximately 75% of the 5,500 tons of mercury that are released into the atmosphere each year [1]. Due to its high volatility, mercury becomes airborne very easily. Once in the atmosphere, it can travel huge distances before eventually being deposited in rivers or oceans. In aquatic environments, mercury is transformed into methyl mercury by both microorganisms and abiotic reactions. Methyl mercury becomes increasingly concentrated in the marine food chain, in a process referred to as biomagnification, and can reach extremely high levels in predatory fish such as swordfish, tuna, king mackerel and shark. Methyl mercury can make up more
than 90% of the total mercury in fish and seafood. The consumption of these fish and other marine organisms is the main route of human exposure to methyl mercury.

Free to read

This article has been unlocked and is ready to read.

Download


Digital Edition

Lab Asia 31.6 Dec 2024

December 2024

Chromatography Articles - Sustainable chromatography: Embracing software for greener methods Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Articles - Solving industry challenges for phosphorus containi...

View all digital editions

Events

Smart Factory Expo 2025

Jan 22 2025 Tokyo, Japan

Instrumentation Live

Jan 22 2025 Birmingham, UK

SLAS 2025

Jan 25 2025 San Diego, CA, USA

Arab Health

Jan 27 2025 Dubai, UAE

Nano Tech 2025

Jan 29 2025 Tokyo, Japan

View all events