Short communication: Determination of total mercury in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, large scaled barb, Barbus grypus, tiger tooth croaker, Otolithes ruber and from surface waters in Khuzestan, Iran

Fishes are a valuable source of dietary protein and minerals for seafood consumers and are also used in pharmaceutical products (Mozaffarian, 2009). Over the past several decades aquatic ecosystems have been extensively contaminated with pollutants released from domestic and industrial waste waters and other anthropogenic activities in Khuzestan, Iran. Heavy metals such as mercury are considered as one of the four most important pollutants of aquatic life because of their high toxicity and ability to bioaccumulate in tissue of aquatic organisms (Hajeb et al., 2009). The toxicity of Hg is highly dependent on its chemical form. Organic mercury compounds are more toxic than inorganic mercury salts which may bioaccumulate to levels that could increase health risks to seafood consumers (Syversen and Kaur, 2012). Since most mercury in fish tissue is present as methyl mercury (Me-Hg), it has been recommended that T-Hg in tissues can serve as a surrogate for Me-Hg (Kannan et al., 1998).