Determination of mercury in fish from rivers and lakes in Hungary by atomic absorption technique

In 1975, in cooperation with 8 County Hygienic Stations, total mercury content in fish from rivers and lakes in Hungary was measured. The mercury content in fish muscle-tissue from 164 fish samples averaged 0.36 mg/kg. Average levels in different fish species ranged from 0.10 to 0.57 mg/kg. The amount of mercury in fish from rivers and lakes, with the exception of the Danube, was, in general, lower than the tolerance level (0.50 mg/kg) as adopted in many countries. Mercury levels in fish from Lake Balaton did not amount to more than 0.30 mg/kg. The circulating cold vapour atomic absorption method was used to determined the mercury content in the fish samples.