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Open-File Report 2007-1078


Publications Warehouse OF 2007-1078

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Determination of Total Mercury in Fillets of Sport Fishes Collected from Folsom Reservoir, California, 2006

Thomas W. May and William G. Brumbaugh

OF 2007-1077 This report presents the results of a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, done in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, to determine mercury concentrations in selected sport fishes from Folsom Reservoir in California. Fillets were collected from each fish sample, and after homogenization and lyophilization of fish fillets, mercury concentrations were determined with a direct mercury analyzer utilizing the process of thermal combustion-gold amalgamation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mercury concentrations in fillets ranged from 0.031 to 0.20 micrograms per gram wet weight in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) samples and 0.071 to 0.16 micrograms per gram wet weight in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) samples. Mercury concentration was 0.98 microgram per gram wet weight in a single spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) sample, which was the only one in the sample set which exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's fish consumption advisory of 0.30 microgram per gram wet weight.
Posted April 2007

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