Mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations in five species of freshwater fish from eastern England

A total of 146 samples of five species of fish were examined between March and November 1986 in four sites from the Rivers Brett and Chelmer in eastern England. Variations in heavy metals concentrations between sites and species were related mainly to size differences of fish. Mercury levels in the flesh were higher than in the liver, while cadmium and lead levels were higher in the liver.