Investigation of Mercury Pollution of Fishery Ecological Environment in Songhua River

Objective To assess the environment quality and the suitability for fisheries in Songhua River.Methods The investigation focused on this river basin was carried out from 2007 to 2009.The samples(water,sediment and fishes) from 11 sampling stations were monitored for mercury and methylmercury.Results The level of mercury in water(0.000 010-0.000 172 mg/L) met the requirement of the Water quality standard for fisheries.Total mercury in sediment(0.01-1.632 mg/kg) in the main fit for the requirement of the Safety Qualification for Agricultural Product-Environmental Requirements for Origin of Non-Environmental Pollution Aquatic Products.Total mercury content in fish was 0.043-0.268 mg/kg,methyl mercury content was 0.037-0.235 mg/kg,generally met The Requirement of the Safety Qualification for Agricultural Product-Environmental Requirement for Origin of Non-Environmental Pollution Aquatic Products,only methyl mercury in few of catfish was higher than the requirement.Conclusion Mercury content of some samples from Songhua River exceededs the value of environmental background.