Abstract
1. In fish with high mercury levels, methylmercury represented about 60% of total mercury content. In fish with low levels, it was around 20%.
2. The mercury level in fish paralleled the size of the fish.
3. Almost no labeled inorganic mercury was absorbed from the intestines after 24hrs., while labeled methylmercury was more quickly absorbed, and was distributed abundantly in muscles and brain.
4. The pattern of distribution of methylmercury in fish was almost the same as that in mammals.
5. The biological half lives of labeled mercury compounds were determined by the whole body counting method in trout, carp and catfish.
There was little difference among species of fish.
6. The biological half life of methylmercury in fish was about 200 days in water at 16°C., which was considerably longer than that in mammals.
The possible contribution of the longer biological half life in fish to the accumulation of methylmercury is discussed.
