Mercury in various tissues of fish caught downstream of a wood pulp factory in the kammerfoss river, South Norway.

The mercury content of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) from a river in South Norway, previously shown to be contaminated with mercury from a wood pulp factory, was studied during a 5-years period after the use of mercury in the factory had been discontinued in 1970. In addition to muscular tissue, samples of liver, kidney, brain, heart, and gonads were also analyzed in some cases. The mercury level in the musculature remained nearly constant at about 1 mug/g during the years 1971-1975. The organ distribution studies indicate a relatively even concentration level in different organs of moderately exposed individuals, while mercury contents exceeding 100 mug/g have been observed in the liver of fish exposed to high mercury pollution.