4.3. Estimated levels of total mercury in animal organs
The estimated concentration of THg in cow kidney calculated by
Eq. (2) ranged widely from 0.017 to 6.2 mg kg−1 fresh weight
(f.w.) (median: 0.19 mg kg−1 f.w.) whereas in sheep kidney levels
of THg varied between 0.0080 and 2.9 mg kg−1 f.w., with a median
of 0.090 mg kg−1. The estimated concentrations of THg in liver were
between 0.0040 and 1.5 mg kg−1 f.w. (median: 0.050 mg kg−1) and
between 0.0020 and 0.70 mg kg−1 f.w. (median: 0.020 mg kg−1) for
cow and sheep, respectively. Muscle was the organ with the lower
values of estimated THg concentration for both animal species and the
only organ for which all estimated levels were below critical limit
of 0.05 mg kg−1 f.w., as defined in food quality criteria (de Vries
et al., 2007). The estimated concentrations of THg in muscle were
between 0.000020 and 0.0090 mg kg−1 f.w. in cow (median of
0.00030 mg kg−1) and between 0.000030 and 0.010 mg kg−1 f.w.
in sheep, with a median of 0.00030 mg kg−1. Almost 85% of all