Trace metal concentrations in fish from the South Esk River, Northeastern Tasmania, Australia

To assess the feasibility of using freshwater fish as indicators of metal pollution, and to supplement the limited information on metal concentrations in fish in Australian rivers, the concentrations of zinc, copper, and cadmium were determined in 5 fish species from the South Esk River which is known to be polluted by metal mining operations. The cadmium content of fish might reflect the concentration in the water, but there was no direct relation to copper or zinc. For all 3 metals and all 5 fish species, the highest metal concentration was found in the liver, followed by the gills and muscle.