Mercury Distribution in Different Tissues of Yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) from the Musa Estuary, Persian Gulf

Mercury concentrations in various tissues of Yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) were determined in five creeks of Musa Estuary – (1) Zangi، (2) Jafari، (3) Petroshimi، (4) Ghazaleh، and (5) Majidieh. Tissue samples were digested in acid and their Hg concentrations were assayed by atom-absorption method. Generally، the order of Hg concentrations in creeks was: Majidieh ≈ Ghazaleh > Petroshimi ≈ Jafari > Zangi. High concentrations at Majidieh and Ghazaleh is due to the location of the these creeks at the end sections of Musa Estuary، less water exchange with the open sea، transport of pollutants by tidal currents، presences of oil export wharf and oil effusions، and probably appropriate condition for the more Methylation of mercury. Calculation of muscle-liver ratio also indicated that only the condition of Zangi creek is close to environmental static conditions. Finally the order of mercury accumulation in body tissues of Yellowfin seabream was liver > muscle > skin ≈ bone ≥ fin ≈ scale، indicating high accumulation capacity of liver and muscle compared to other tissues، probably due to developed vascularization، high percentage of water content، and biochemical and functional characteristics of these tissues. It is also found that by the increase of mercury pollution the difference between Hg accumulation in liver and muscle increased.