Mercury concentration in fish from Irish waters in 1992

Abstract

Fish landed at the major Irish ports and molluscs from the main growing areas were sampled during 1992 and analysed for total mercury content. Concentrations in fish species ranged from 0.015 to 1.02 mg/kg wet weight with a mean of 0.1, while in shellfish the concentrations were lower and ranged from 0.005 to 0.049 with a mean of 0.026. The mercury levels recorded in all fish sampled were within the standards for human health applied by the contracting parties to the Oslo and Paris Convention (OSPARCOM). The mean mercury concentrations in only two samples, redfish and crawfish from the west coast, showed levels close to the limit. These species are generally offshore and levels are associated with naturally-occurring mercury rather than with human activity. The survey confirms that Irish seafish of all kinds are effectively free from mercury contamination.