ACCUMULATION OF TRACE-METALS (CD, PB, CU, ZN) IN ARCTIC CHAR (SALVELINUS-ALPINUS) FROM OLIGOTROPHIC ALPINE LAKES - RELATION TO ALKALINITY

We studied Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from five oligotrophic Alp ine lakes in northern Tyrol, Austria, that differed in altitude (929-2 796 m above sea level), pH (pH 5.4-8.3), and alkalinity (1.3-2750 mu e quiv.. L(-1)). Concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu were measured in t he water and in the kidney of fish, allowing the calculation of metal bioconcentration factors between water and fish kidney. Despite relati vely low Cd and Pb concentrations in the water (Cd, 0.1 mu g . L-1; Pb , 0.5 mu g . L(-1), dissolved), metal concentrations in the kidneys of fish from the most acidic lake (Cd, 123 mu g . g(-1); Pb, 19 mu g . g (-1), dry weight) were comparable with those of fish from waters pollu ted by direct discharge of metals. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the kidney were negatively correlated with the alkalinity of the lakes. Co mparison with data from other studies confirms the predictive utility of water alkalinity for estimating Cd accumulation in fish from oligot rophic lakes. The correlation between bioconcentration factors and alk alinity was negative for Cd and Pb, positive for Zn, and nonsignifican t for Cu.