Trace elements in fish overlying subaqueous tailings in the tropical west pacific

From 1972-1989, Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) discharged mine tailings into Empress Augusta Bay on the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua Ne w Guinea. For a decade (1977-1987), trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg and As) were measured in muscle tissue and organs of 8 species of tropical mari ne fish common to both the east and west coasts of the Island. Metal concen trations were not elevated in muscle tissue of west fish compared with thos e from the east coast. Concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in fish muscle f rom both coasts ranged from 10-15% of recommended maximum residue limits (M RLs), whereas concentrations of Hg in muscle were slightly higher, ranging up to less than or equal to 80% of the MRL (0.5 mg kg(-1) Hg wet wt.). Maxi mum total As concentrations (3.6 mg kg(-1) wet wt.) were recorded in the sh ark (Rhizoprionodon acutus), while highest Hg values (0.76 mg kg(-1) wet wt .) were found in hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) from both coasts. Despi te significant temporal variations in Hg and As concentrations in muscle ti ssue of some west coast fish populations (p < 0.05), there was no evidence for bioaccumulation or biomagnification of any of these metals during the 1 0 yr period, even in the soft organs (liver and kidney) of fish. Several si te specific factors contributing to absence of metals uptake from tailings are discussed.