Determination of total mercury concentrations in water and common Carp from Azadegan aquaculture site, Khuzestan: strategy to reduce mercury accumulation in fish

This study aimed to determine the total mercury (T-Hg) concentration in the common Carp muscles (Cyprinus carpio) fish species and surface water where they are collected. The fish and water samples were collected from Azadegan Aquaculture complex in Khuzestan، Iran during November of 2011 and the concentration of T-Hg was determined by Direct Mercury Analyzer-80. The mean T-Hg concentration in Cyprinus carpio was 0. 52±0. 25 μg T-Hg/kg for wet weight fish tissue. Average T-Hg concentrations for water sample from tree point of the pond were 2. 10 ±0. 001 μg/kg، 2. 12±0. 003 μg/kg and 2. 11±0. 08 μg/kg correspondingly. The results demonstrated that the levels of T-Hg in fish tissues were lower than water samples which is below the standards for human health screening levels proposed by the WHO، FDA and EPA (for water samples) and that bioaccumulation of mercury did not occur in fish in this aquaculture complex.