Mercury in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska

A study on mercury (Hg) concentrations in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, revealed significant variability across sites and species, with Hg levels ranging from 17.9 to 616.4 ng/g wet weight. Site characteristics were found to play a crucial role in determining fish Hg concentrations, with inter-site variation reaching up to 13.2 times within a single species. The research also identified potential ecological risks, as Hg concentrations in Copper Lake and Tanada Lake exceeded conservative benchmarks for bird and human consumption. Notably, smaller-sized fishes from Tanada Lake were suggested as a means to reduce Hg exposure for human consumers.

Kowalski, B. M., Willacker, J. J., Zimmerman, C. E., & Eagles-Smith, C. A. (2014). Mercury in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Open-File Report. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141145