Mercury levels of soils, sediments and fish in French Guiana, South America

This study examines the level of mercury contamination for different components of the biosphere in French Guiana. The spatial variability of the contamination of the waters, soils and sediments in the catchment area of the Sinnamary River is studied. The contamination of the trophic chain is discussed by analysis of the flesh of fish for the principal species represented in nine Guianese rivers, especially species consumed by human populations. The mercury contamination of sediments and soils, is extremely heterogeneous and that of fish is generalised. For carnivorous fish, the average mercury content is 0.48 mug g(-1) (+/-0.28) (fresh weight) and for non-carnivorous species, 0.05 mug g(-1) (+/-0.07). The concentrations measured are greater than the European standards for consumption for 4.7% of the carnivorous individuals.