2023 Ecosystem Transformation 6 (4), 96-118

Assessing the consumptive safety of fish with different mercury content in its muscles (water bodies of Vologda Oblast as a case study)

Borisov M.Ya , Ivanova E.S., Tropin N.Yu., Shilova A.E., Ugryumova E.V., Bazhenova D.E.

The mercury content in muscle tissues of fish from the water bodies of Vologda Oblast varied within 0.001–2.492 μg/g wet weight. The minimum average values were recorded for rainbow trout and smelt (0.025 and 0.066 μg/g), while the maximum average – for asp and smelt (0.401 and 0.472 μg/g). In 12.1% of the studied non-predatory and 9.5% of predatory fish specimens, mercury concentrations exceeded the RF standard levels established for these groups of species (≥ 0.3 μg/g and ≥ 0.6 μg/g, respectively). The proportion of the examined fish, the consumption of which would result in exceeding the permissible weekly mercury intake (RfD according to US EPA) made up 50% for preschool children (2–5 years), 37% for primary school children (6–10 years), 24 % for a secondary school age (11– 15 years), and 18% for adults.

M. Ya. Borisov
Vologda Branch of FSBSI “VNIRO” (“VologodNIRO”)
ul. Levicheva 5, Vologda, 160012 Russia

Ph.D. in Biology, leading researcher
myaborisov@mail.ru

E. S. Ivanova
Cherepovets State University
pr. Lunacharskogo 5, Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, 162600 Russia

Ph.D. in Biology, senior researcher

Nikolay Yurievich Tropin
Vologda Branch of FSBSI “VNIRO” (“VologodNIRO”)
ul. Levicheva 5, Vologda, 160012 Russia

Ph.D. in Biology, senior researcher

Anastasia Evgenievna Shilova
Vologda Branch of FSBSI “VNIRO” (“VologodNIRO”)
ul. Levicheva 5, Vologda, 160012 Russia

leading specialist

Elena Vasilievna Ugryumova
Vologda Branch of FSBSI “VNIRO” (“VologodNIRO”)
ul. Levicheva 5, Vologda, 160012 Russia

leading specialist

Darya Eduardovna Bazhenova
Cherepovets State University
pr. Lunacharskogo 5, Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, 162600 Russia

graduate student

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