The accumulation of organic mercury from sea water by the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L

The accumulation of organic mercury from sea water by plaice eggs, larvae and adult fish has been studied using CH₃²⁰³HgCl as a tracer. The isotope was rapidly accumulated, the largest fraction being taken up by muscle tissue. High concentration factors were attained by many internal organs, particularly blood, spleen, and kidney. Longer biological half-times than previous estimates with ²⁰³HgCl₂ were obtained: the possible consequences of inorganic mercury accumulated from sea water being excreted at the rate for methylmercury have been calculated.