MERCURY IN A WIDELY CONSUMED FISH MICROPOGONIAS-FURNIERI (DEMAREST, 1823) FROM 4 MAIN BRAZILIAN ESTUARIES

We analyzed mercury levels in the white muscular tissue of a fish (Mic ropogonias furnieri) originated from four Brazilian estuaries during t he period between the summer 1990 and spring 1991. Mercury levels were below the maximum permissible limit established for food by the Brazi lian legislation (500.0 ng.g(-1) wet wt.). The measured mercury concen trations ranged from 17.4 to 266.0 ng.g(-1) (wet wt.), for Guanabara B ay 19.5-252.2 ng.g(-1) (wet wt.), for Sepetiba Bay 23.0-433.7 ng.g(-1) (wet wt.), for Ilha Grande Bay 13.8-296.3 ng.g(-1) (wet wt.) for Conc eicao Lagoon. Positive relantionships were observed between mercury co ncentration in fish and the length and weight of the fishes. Weight no rmalized concentration showed Guanabara Bay presented the higher level s and the Conceicao Lagoon presented the lowest levels. Ilha Grande Ba y presented the second highest levels after Sepetiba Bay, although the former is considered a non-contaminated area. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.