Abstract:

The distribution characteristics of mercury in seafood muscle were studied by using high performance liquid
chromatography and atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The methylmercury contents in 891 samples of 50 species in coastal
areas of Zhejiang province were determined. Taking into consideration the data of aquatic product consumption in daily
life, health risks from methylmercury in seafoods were assessed. Results showed that more than 94.2% of these samples
contained detectable levels of methylmercury. Methylmercury was the major form of mercury in aquatic products with
total mercury content ranging from 65.0% to 95.2%. The determined values of methylmercury in all samples ranged from
0 to 0.95 mg/kg, which were lower than the maximum allowable limit stipulated in the national standard. Aquatic products
with different trophic levels had different abilities of methylmercury bioconcentration. The fish with higher nutrient level
have stronger bioconcentration ability. Methylmercury contents in the large predatory fish such as shark and tuna were
significantly higher than those in common fish. The risk assessment indicated that health risk from methylmercury in seafood
products in Zhejiang coastal areas was low except in the case of long-term or high-level consumption fish such as shark and
tuna with high methylmercury concentration.

Key words: Zhejiang coastal areas, seafood, methylmercury, pollution investigation, risk assessment