ABSTRACT
M. Fishman and R. Spencer used an ultraviolet radiation or an acid persulphate digestion procedure to decompose organoarsenic compounds. The automated methods of Agemian and Cheam use hydrogen peroxide and sulphuric acid for the destruction of organic matter, combined with permanganate-persulphate oxidation for the complete recovery of organoarsenic compounds from fish. A comparison of determination of total mercury in tuna fish obtained by standard addition method with that of methylmercury obtained by a gas chromatographic method indicates that 77% of the total mercury occurs as methylmercury. The swordfish liver samples, however, contained a much lower percentage of methylmercury than muscle. Various workers have applied cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry to the determination of organomercury compounds in fish. P. Jones and G. Nickless have described a dithizone spectrophotometric procedure for the measurement of trace concentrations of methylmercury salts in fish tissue.
