Total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were recorded in the commercial demersal fish Lethrinus
nebulosus, caught from six locations in Qatar EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Concentrations of THg decreased
in the order: liver ˃ muscle ˃ gonad. THg concentrations in fish tissue ranged from 0.016 ppm in gonad to
0.855 ppm (mg kg−1 w/w) in liver tissues, while concentrations in muscle tissue ranged from 0.24 to 0.49 ppm
(mg kg−1 w/w) among sampling sites. MeHg concentrations were used to validate food web transfer rate calculations.
Intake rates were calculated to assess the potential health impact of the fish consumption. There is no
major threat to human health from the presence of Hg in L. nebulosus, based upon reasonable consumption
patterns, limited to no more than three meals of L. nebulosus per week.Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) under the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) award number NPRP 09-505-1-08
