Trace Metals in Fish and Sediments from Lake Boeuf, Southeastern Louisiana

Abstract The trace metals Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were measured in fish and sediment samples taken from Lake Boeuf, located in southeastern Louisiana. Lake Boeuf is a popular recreational fishing lake from which the following sunfish are caught and consumed: bluegill sunfish ( Lepomis macrochirus ); largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ); and black crappie ( Poxomis nigromaculatus ). Metals were extracted from the fish and sediment samples using microwave digestion techniques. The metal concentrations were quantified using standard flame atomic absorption spectroscopic methods. The concentrations of trace metals in fish did not vary significantly between species or weight of fish; however, a seasonal trend in metal concentration was observed. Concentrations of Cr varied from 2 to 15 μg/g, Cu from 0.2 to 4 μg/g, Pb from 0.5 to 9 μg/g, and Zn from 10 to 20 μg/g. Concentrations of the studied metals in the core samples did not vary with depth in the core, suggesting that no pollutant metals have been input to the lake.