The issue of alkylderivatives of mercury in biotic matrices

Alkyl derivatives of mercury, especially methylmercury, bring a significant risk to the environment and the human population. Methylmercury is highly toxic compound, which have the potential to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in tissues of aquatic organisms. This diploma thesis deals with issues of alkyl derivatives of mercury in biotic matrices. The goal of this thesis was to analyze fish tissues. Fish were caught from the river Svratka at the inflow and at the outflow of wastewater treatment plant. Methylmercury was determined in fish muscles and skin. Total mercury was determined in fish muscles. The extraction based on acidic digestion in hydrochloric acid and subsequent extraction with toluene was used for isolation of methylmercury from fish tissues. There was used gas chromatography with electron capture microdetector for determination of methylmercury. Total mercury was determined by special analyzer AMA 254