Mercury concentrations in fish from the Itacaiúnas-Parauapebas river system, Carajás region, Amazon

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on total Hg concentrations in muscle tissue from 12 fish species collected in the Itacaiúnas and Parauapebas Rivers in the Carajás region,South Pará. It is found that carnivorous species present Hg concentrations higher than herbivorous and omnivorous species. Also, large carnivorus species presented higher Hg concentrations than smaller carnivorus species. Significant positive relationship are found between fish weight and total Hg concentrations for at least two studied in detailed, the carnivorous Paulicea likeni (jaú) and Serrasalmus nattererii (piranha)