Abstract:

A high performance liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry method was developed for
the determination of mercury species in aquatic products using hydrochloric acid solution as the extractant. Under the
optimized conditions of hydrochloric acid concentration, complexant, pump speed and gas flow, the method showed a high
accuracy and good precision. Methylmercury was detected in muscles of most of the 160 seafood samples from the coast
of Zhejiang province. Methylmercury was the main form detected in muscle, which accounted for 65.0%–95.2% of the
total mercury content in mass fraction. Methylmercury content in carnivorous fish was higher than that in ordinary fish. The
total mercury contents in skin and viscera were higher than those in gill and muscle, and inorganic mercury was the main
form in viscera, gills and skin.

Key words: mercury, methylmercury, high performance liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry, speciation analysis, seafood