EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF TROPHIC CONTAMINATION OF SALMO-GAIRDNERI BY 2 MERCURY-COMPOUNDS - HGCL2 AND CH3HGCL - ANALYSIS AT THE ORGANISM AND ORGAN LEVELS

The experimental study of the trophic Hg contamination of Salmo gairdneri shows very specific patterns of bioaccumulation and transfer of the two compounds studied, HgCl//2 and CH//3HgCl. Analyses of the participation of the principal organs in these processes reveals the fundamental importance of the intestinal barrier. With respect to methylmercury, the digestive wall represents a permeable biological structure which makes contamination of all the organs of the trout possible. In contrast, the inorganic Hg compound has a preferential site of accumulation, substantially reducing its transfer to the other organs in the fish.