The trace metals Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were measured in fish and sediment samp
les taken from Lake Boeuf, located in southeastern Louisiana. Lake Boeuf is
a popular recreational fishing lake from which the following sunfish are c
aught and consumed: bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus); largemouth bass
(Micropterus salmoides); and black crappie (Poxomis nigromaculatus), Metal
s were extracted from the fish and sediment samples using microwave digesti
on techniques. The metal concentrations were quantified using standard flam
e atomic absorption spectroscopic methods. The concentrations of trace meta
ls in fish did not vary significantly between species or weight of fish; ho
wever, a seasonal trend in metal concentration was observed. Concentrations
of Cr varied from 2 to 15 mu g/g, Cu from 0.2 to 4 mu g/g, Pb from 0.5 to
9 mu g/g, and Zn from 10 to 20 mu g/g. Concentrations of the studied metals
in the core samples did nor vary with depth in the core, suggesting that n
o pollutant metals have been input to the lake. (C) 1999 Academic Press.