TRACE-METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN FISH FROM THE SOUTH ESK RIVER, NORTHEASTERN TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

As an adjunct to a study of the South Esk River reported by R. H. Norris et al. , an investigation was made of the concentrations of zinc, cadmium and copper in South Esk River fish. The purpose of the work reported here was to assess the value of determining metal concentrations in freshwater fish to indicate metal pollution. Such a practice has been reported as being successful for metals such as mercury and cadmium. A further aim was to provide information on metal concentrations in fish as few data have been published for Australian rivers. Study results tend to support observations in previous studies, that waterbody contamination by copper and zinc may not be reflected in concentrations of these metals in fish but that contamination by cadmium may be reflected by cadmium concentrations in resident fish. Refs.