Mercury and Selenium Concentrations In Fish Tissue and Surface Waters of the Northern Unit of the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge, (Kaiyuh Flats), West Central Alaska, 1993

TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE, INC.
122 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 600
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99701 By
Paul G. Headlee
Wildlife and Parks Program Water Resources Report No. 96-3, May 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT 5
INTRODUCTION 6
Study Area 6
Background on Mercury, Methylmercury, and Selenium 6
PROJECT OBJECTIVES 8
METHODS AND MATERIALS 8 Sample Sites 8
Surface Water 11
Fish 11
Quality Control/ Quality Assurance (QC/QA) 12
RESULTS 12 Surface Water 12
Fish 13

DISCUSSION 17
Water Quality 17
Fish 17
Fish Consumption and Risk Assessment 18
RECOMMENDATIONS 21
REFERENCES 22
APPENDIX A Columbia Analytical Services Analytical Report. 24
APPENDIX B Columbia Analytical Services Quality Assurance/
Quality Control Report 25

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure
1. Map of sample sites within study area. 9
2. Total mercury (ppm) vs. fork length (mm) of fish. 16
3. Total mercury (ppm) vs. age of fish. 16

TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

LIST OF TABLES

Table
1. Results of water quality analysis. 13
2. Northern pike body size, metal concentrations in muscle tissue, 14
and age at capture.
3. Length frequency at selected size ranges of northern pike captured 15
4. Northern pike fork lengths (mm), calculated Hg concentrations, and potential recommended northern pike consumption amounts 20