Distribution of mercury in leg muscle and liver of game birds from Serbia

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of Hg levels in leg muscle and liver of game birds collected within the Serbian National residue monitoring program from 2013 to 2016. Hg levels in samples (n=464) of: pheasants (n=182), mallard (n=25), Eurasian jay (n=7), partridges (n=5) and woodcocks (n=8) were determined by ICPMS. The highest mean Hg levels were observed in leg muscle samples of woodcocks (0.071 mg/kg) and mallard (0.059 mg/kg). The lowest mean Hg level in liver was determined in partridges (0.008 mg/kg) while the highest was in pheasants (0.262 mg/kg) and mallard (0.161 mg/kg). Statistical analysis showed significantly differences between Hg levels in liver of woodcocks and mallard, as well as between them and livers of other analysed game birds. During the four years (2013-2016), 87.5% of leg muscle and 50% of woodcock livers had Hg levels that exceeded the MRL, while in mallard muscle and liver those percentages were 36% and 40%, respectively.