U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 07–1229

Prepared in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation

Concentration of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish 

Fillets from the 2006 Missouri Department of Conservation 

Monitoring Programs

Concentration of Elements in Hellbender 

Blood and Fish Fillets from the 2006 

Missouri Department of Conservation 

Monitoring Programs

By Thomas W. May, Michael J. Walther, William G. Brumbaugh, Jeffrey T. 

Briggler1, Yue-wern Huang2, and Michael J. McKee1

1

Missouri Department of Conservatiom

2

University of Missouri–Rolla

Prepared in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation

Open-File Report 2007–1229

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007

For product and ordering information:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS

For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, 

natural hazards, and the environment:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

May, T.W., Walther, M.J., Brumbaugh, W.G., Briggler, J.T., Huang, Yue-wern, and McKee, M.J., 2007, Concentrations 

of elements in hellbender blood and fish fillets from the 2006 Missouri Department of Conservation monitoring programs: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007–1229, 18 p. 
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Sampling History............................................................................................................................................1

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................2

Homogenization and Lyophilization ...................................................................................................2

Chemical Preparation ..........................................................................................................................2

Instrumental Analysis...........................................................................................................................2

Quality Control................................................................................................................................................2

Results .............................................................................................................................................................3

Quality Control Results..................................................................................................................................3

References Cited............................................................................................................................................5

Tables...............................................................................................................................................................7

Tables

1. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead and lead/

calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General 

Contaminant Monitoring fish fillets............................................................................................8

2. Wet weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in 

Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General Contaminant Monitoring 

fish fillets ......................................................................................................................................11

3. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead and 

lead/calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 

Resource Assessment and Monitoring fish fillets ................................................................13

4. Wet weight concentrations of calcium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead in 

Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Resource Assessment and 

Monitoring fish fillets .................................................................................................................15

5. Concentrations of chromium, cobalt, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri 

Department of Conservation 2006 Hellbender Monitoring Program hellbender 

blood .............................................................................................................................................17
iv

Conversion Factors and Datum

Multiply By To obtain

Length

millimeter) 0.03937 inch (in.)

micrometer (μm) 0.0000393 inch (in.)

Volume

liter (L) 33.82 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

milliliter (mL) 0.034 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

Mass

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

milligram (mg) 0.000035 ounce (oz)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

 °F=(1.8×°C)+32

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in solid materials are given in micrograms per gram 

(μg/g).
Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish 

Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation 

Monitoring Programs

By Thomas W. May, Michael J. Walther, and William G. Brumbaugh, Jeffrey T. Briggler1, Yue-wern Huang2, 

and Michael J. McKee1

1

Missouri Department of Conservation.

2

University of Missouri–Rolla.

Abstract

This report presents the results of contaminant monitoring surveys conducted annually by the Missouri Department 

of Conservation to examine the levels of selected elemental 

contaminants in hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) 

blood and fish. Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus, Ictalurus punctatus, Pylodictis olivaris), redhorse (Moxostoma anisorum,

Moxostoma erythrurum), bass (Micropterus salmoides, 

Micropterus punctulatus, Micropterus lacepède, Ambloplites 

rupestris), walleye (Sander vitreus), and sunfish (Lepomis 

megalotis) were collected from 17 sites as part of the Department’s General Contaminant Monitoring Program. Bluegill 

(Lepomis macrochirus) and other sunfish (Lepomis megalotis, 

Lepomis cyanellus) were collected from 18 sites as part of the 

Department’s Resource Assessment and Monitoring Program. 

Blood from hellbenders was collected from seven sites as part 

of the Department’s Hellbender Monitoring Program. 

Introduction

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) initiated long-term statewide fish monitoring programs in 1984. 

The programs’ designs are to annually select predator and 

bottom dwelling species from each of 20–30 lakes and streams 

across Missouri to characterize concentrations of targeted 

metal and other chemical contaminants. Actual sites monitored 

each year vary based on data needs, budgets, and personnel 

resources. Emphasis is on human health and, therefore, incorporates fish fillets, composite samples, and sample replication 

at each site. In 2006, 17 sites were selected for sampling as 

part of the MDC General Contaminant Monitoring (GCM) 

Program. Predator and bottom dwelling species were selected 

based on the need for specific mercury information (walleye, 

Sander vitreus; flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris; various 

bass species, Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus punctulatus, Micropterus lacepède, Ambloplites rupestris), having a 

propensity to accumulate lead (Pb), or the potentially greater 

risk for consumption (large river catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus, 

Ictalurus Punctatus, Pylodictis Olivaris). In addition to the 

GCM samples, blood samples were collected from hellbenders 

(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) from seven sites in the Missouri Ozarks as part of the MDC Resource Science Division’s 

Hellbender Monitoring Program (HMP). Finally, bluegill 

(Lepomis macrochirus) and other sunfish (Lepomis megalotis, 

Lepomis cyanellus) were collected from 18 small wadeable 

stream sites as part of the MDC Resource Assessment and 

Monitoring Program (RAM), which consisted of fillets from 

three fish collected at each site. MDC has requested the assistance of the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center 

(CERC) for this monitoring program because of CERC’s past 

experience with aquatic biota monitoring projects and expertise in the preparation and analysis of fish for elemental contaminants. For more detailed information on the overall study 

design or specific sample information, please contact Jeff T. 

Briggler (Hellbenders) or Mike McKee (other MDC samples) 

at the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Sampling History

A shipment of 90 fish fillet composites was received 

by CERC’s Inorganic Section on November 17, 2006. The 

samples included skin-on and skinless fillets, depending upon 

species. Upon receipt, the shipment was assigned CERC 

batch #1316 and sample identifications (IDs) 38400–38489. 

A second shipment of 52 skinless fish fillets, 3 fillets per site, 

was received on November 17, 2006, and assigned CERC 

batch #1317 and sample IDs 38490–38541. A third shipment 

consisting of 56 samples of hellbender blood was received 

on November 17, 2006. These samples were assigned CERC 

batch #1318 and sample IDs 38542–38597. All samples had 

been stored since collection at the MDC’s Resource Science 

Center in Columbia, Mo. and were delivered by MDC personnel. Requested analyses included cadmium (Cd), mercury 
2 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs

(Hg), and lead (Pb) for the GCM samples (shipment 1), zinc 

(Zn), Cd, and Pb for the RAM samples (shipment 2), and 

cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), Cd, Hg, and Pb for the HMP 

samples (shipment 3). Because fish fillet samples were highly 

variable in the way they were extracted and, thus, may have 

varying amounts of calcium-rich bone fragments that can be 

comparatively high in Pb, calcium (Ca) was added to the list 

of requested elements as a potential means to help explain Pb 

variability (Schmitt and Finger, 1987).

Methods

Homogenization and Lyophilization

GCM fillet samples were chopped with a titanium meat 

cleaver on a cleaned polypropylene cutting board. Larger 

fillets were ground with a Hobart® meat grinder, whereas, 

smaller fillets were ground in a modified KitchenAid® meat 

grinder. The smallest mass samples were simply minced with 

a ceramic knife. All chopped and ground samples then were 

lyophilized followed by either hand kneading in a plastic 

(polyethylene) bag or crushing with a rolling pin in a plastic 

bag. All dried and ground products were stored at room temperature in a 40-milliliter (mL) glass vial in a desiccator.

RAM samples were received in the form of single fillets 

per sample. Each sample was minced with a ceramic knife. An 

aliquot of the minced material less than (<) 30 grams (g) was 

lyophilized to a constant dry weight using a Genesis® 35EL 

lyophilizer; percent moisture was determined in conjunction 

with the lyophilization process. After drying, fillet samples 

were reduced to a coarse powder by crushing with a glass rod. 

All dried and ground products were stored at room temperature in a 40-mL glass vial in a desiccator.

Chemical Preparation

To prepare fish samples for Ca, Zn, Cd, and Pb analysis, a 

dried sample (about or approximately 0.25 g) was heated with 

6-mL nitric acid in a sealed low-pressure Teflon® vessel in a 

laboratory microwave oven. The cooled digestate liquid was 

transferred into a 125-mL polyethylene bottle with ultrapure 

water [greater than (>) 10 megOhms per centimeter (megOhm/

cm)] and diluted to a final weight of 101.5 g. Final acid matrix 

was 6 percent nitric acid. For the determination of Hg in 

fish samples, there was no chemical preparation (digestion) 

because the dried sample was decomposed thermally during 

instrumental analysis (see below). The lyophilized hellbender 

blood samples were digested for analysis by quantitative 

inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A 

20- to 50-milligram (mg) subsample of each hellbender blood 

sample was weighed into a 10-mL Teflon®-lined, screw-cap 

borosilicate test tube and 0.5 mL sub-boiled nitric acid was 

added. After a 1-hour pre-digestion at room temperature, 

the tube was sealed and placed in a hot-block heater at 110 

degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. The tube was cooled for 10 

minutes, 0.2 mL high-purity hydrogen peroxide was added, 

and the tube was returned to the hot-block heater for 30 minutes. After cooling, the sample was diluted to a final volume of 

5 mL. Final acid matrix was 10 percent nitric acid. 

Instrumental Analysis

Calcium, Cr, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb analyses were conducted using a PE/SCIEX Elan 6000® ICP-MS, which was 

set up in “Standard Mode” and optimized according to the 

manufacturer’s specifications. Samples were automatically 

delivered to the ICP-MS by means of a software-controlled 

CETAC ASD-500 autosampler/autodiluter system. All 

sample digestates were analyzed with a ten-fold (10X) predilution by autodiluter. 

The ICP-MS quantitative method was designed to 

determine the following masses: 44Ca and 48Ca, 52Cr and 53Cr, 59Co, 66Zn and 68Zn, 111Cd and 114Cd, and Pb as the sum of three 

masses (206Pb+207Pb+208Pb). The internal standards were Sc 

at 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), Rh (10 ng/mL), and 

Bi (10 ng/mL), which were metered into the sample line via 

peristaltic pump. Calibration standards for analyses were as 

follows: Ca—2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 ng/mL; Co, Cr, and 

Pb—5, 10, 20, 40 ng/mL; Cd—1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12 ng/mL;

Zn—75, 150, 300 ng/mL. During the actual analysis, any 

digestate concentration greater than the upper calibration 

standard for any element was automatically diluted 10 times 

in a serial fashion until its concentration was below this level. 

Where multiple masses for an element were measured, the 

concentration reported was based on the mass exhibiting least 

interferences, which were as follows: 44Ca, 53Cr, 66Zn, 114Cd 

(five instances) and 111Cd (one instance), and Pb as the sum of 

three masses 206Pb+207Pb+208Pb).

Mercury was determined with a Milestone DMA-80 

analyzer equipped with an automated sample carousel. With 

this method, a dried fish sample (40–60 mg) was combusted in 

a stream of oxygen. All Hg in the sample was volatilized and 

trapped by amalgamation on a gold substrate and was thermally desorbed and quantitated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 

1998). 

Quality Control

The samples were digested and analyzed in seven 

groups or batches for Ca, Cd, and Pb, and eight batches for 

Hg. The quality control incorporated in the digestion stage 

of the samples (for subsequent ICP-MS analysis) included 

digestion blanks, reference materials, replicates, and spikes. 

For the determination of Ca, Co, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Pb by ICPMS, instrumental quality control included calibration checks, 

laboratory control solutions, duplicate digestate analysis, 
Quality Control Results 3

analysis spikes, and interference checks (dilution percent 

difference and a synthetic interference solution). Quality 

control for Hg included blanks, independent calibration verification checks, replicates, pre-combustion spikes, and tissue 

reference materials. All quality control results were tabulated 

to provide an overview of quality assurance and to facilitate 

interpretation.

Results

Percent moisture, concentrations in micrograms per 

gram (μg/g) dry weight of Ca, Cd, Hg, and Pb, and molar 

ratios of [Pb/Ca] (1 X 10-6) for the GCM samples are presented in table 1. To facilitate comparison with any regulatory guidelines, concentrations of Ca, Cd, Hg and Pb are 

presented in μg/g wet weight in table 2. Similarly, percent 

moisture, concentrations (μg/g dry weight) of Ca, Zn, Cd, 

Hg, and Pb, and molar ratios of [Pb/Ca] (1 X 10-6) for the 

RAM samples are presented in table 3, and wet weight 

concentrations are presented in table 4. Percent moisture and 

concentrations (μg/g dry weight) of Cr, Co, Cd, Hg, and Pb 

in hellbender blood from the HMP are presented in table 5. 

For this report all sample and quality control data are discussed in terms of the dry weight results only. 

GCM: Calcium concentrations were variable among fillet samples, but within each species differences were generally within 

a factor of 2 (table 1). Such variation was presumably because 

of differing bone content in the fillets and was undoubtedly influenced by significant variations in fillet preparation 

techniques as well as by the fish species (such as catostomids, 

or sucker fish, possess numerous tiny intermuscular bones). 

Fillets from some species contained noticeably higher Ca concentrations than other, for example, longear sunfish compared 

to walleye. Although Ca is normally not a target analyte, fillet 

Ca concentrations are useful when target analytes include 

those that markedly accumulate in bone, for example, Pb. 

Thus, measurements of Ca can serve to help explain variability of Pb concentrations for individual samples caused by the 

inclusion of variable amounts of Ca-rich tissue in the sample 

[1]. Cadmium concentrations (μg/g dry weight) were less than 

0.050 in most samples, with many samples having concentrations less than method quantitation and method detection 

limits. Two of the highest Cd concentrations were from a 

flathead catfish sample (#38439; 0.092 μg/g dry weight) and 

a longear sunfish sample (#38463; 0.28 μg/g dry weight). On 

an individual fish basis, the highest mercury concentrations 

were measured in six largemouth bass, nine walleye, and six 

catfish; these ranged from 1.59 to 5.57 μg/g dry weight. All 

walleye and largemouth bass samples, and six catfish samples 

equaled or exceeded the current United States Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA) fish consumption advisory for 

Hg of 0.30 μg/g wet weight (United States Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2001). All catfish fillet samples except 

one exhibited Pb concentrations less than or equal to (≤) 0.10

μg/g dry weight. The one exception was sample 38407 (site 

297), which had a Pb concentration of 0.51 μg/g dry weight. 

This sample did not contain an unusually high concentration of Ca, indicating that the fillet Pb concentration was not 

influenced by inclusion of bone fragments (table 1). Numerous 

fillets from redhorse and golden redhorse species exceeded 

0.10 μg/g dry weight, ranging from 0.11 to 0.42 μg/g dry 

weight. The highest Pb concentrations were observed in fillets 

of longear sunfish, which ranged from 0.30 to 1.23 μg/g dry 

weight. Notably, these fish also had the highest Ca concentrations, suggesting that bone fragments may have been present 

in the fillets, which in addition to probable Pb exposure, might 

explain these comparably higher Pb concentrations. 

RAM: Calcium concentrations in sunfish were highly variable, 

ranging from 357 to 4,490 μg/g dry weight (table 3). Within 

the green sunfish species, Ca concentrations varied as much 

as eightfold, whereas longear sunfish exhibited Ca variations 

as much as sevenfold. Zinc concentrations were fairly uniform 

across the sample set, with variation of less than threefold 

among fillet samples. Zinc concentrations ranged from 20.9 

to 54.3 μg/g dry weight. Cadmium concentrations ranged 

from less than 0.008 to 0.43 μg/g dry weight. All Cd concentrations were below 0.10 μg/g dry weight except for three 

samples (38539, 0.41 μg/g dry weight; 38490, 0.43 μg/g dry 

weight; 38528, 0.17 μg/g dry weight). Mercury concentrations 

in bluegill and other sunfish ranged from 0.050 to 0.90 μg/g 

dry weight. All Hg concentrations were less than the current 

USEPA fish consumption advisory for Hg of 0.30 μg/g wet 

weight (USEPA, 2001). Pb concentrations in bluegill and sunfish fillets ranged from < 0.003 to 0.21 μg/g dry weight. All 

samples had Pb concentrations < 0.10 μg/g dry weight except 

for two samples (38499, 0.21 μg/g dry weight; 38501, 0.10 

μg/g dry weight).

HMP: Chromium concentrations in hellbender blood ranged 

from < 0.13 to 6.87 μg/g dry weight (table 5). Some of the 

highest Cr concentrations were from the following samples: 

38573, 6.87 μg/g dry weight; 38575, 2.17 μg/g dry weight; 

38582, 2.52 μg/g dry weight. Cobalt concentrations in hellbender blood ranged from 0.12 to 1.41 μg/g dry weight. Some 

of the higher Co concentrations were from samples 38546 

(1.41 μg/g dry weight) and 38550 (1.37 μg/g dry weight). Cadmium concentrations in hellbender blood ranged from 

< 0.002 to 0.11 μg/g dry weight. All except one Cd concentration (38573, 0.11 μg/g dry weight) were < 0.06 μg/g dry 

weight. Mercury concentrations ranged from 0.080 to 0.65 

μg/g dry weight, and Pb concentrations ranged from 0.013 to 

0.23 μg/g dry weight. 

Quality Control Results

Calibration Verification: A calibration blank and an 

independent calibration verification standard (ICVS) were 

analyzed every 10 samples to confirm the calibration status of 

the ICP-MS during instrumental analyses of the fish fillet and 
4 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs

diet digestates for Ca, Cr, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb; blanks were 

within plus and minus (±)three times the instrument detection 

limits for each element and ICVS recoveries were within the 

target of 90 to 110 percent of the ICVS standard concentration for each element. Three reference solutions (Spex Claritas 

Instrument Check Standard ICS-1;National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material 

(SRM) 1640: Trace Elements in Natural Water; High Purity 

Standards Certified Reference Solution Trace Metals in Fish: 

HP CRM-TF) used as laboratory control samples exhibited 

elemental recoveries ranging from 93 to 104 percent. Calibration verification reference tissues (National Research Council 

Canada (NRCC) SRM DOLT-2; International Atomic Energy 

Agency (IAEA) SRM 407-Trace Elements and Methylmercury 

in Fish Tissue; NRCC SRM DOLT-3: Dogfish Liver) for total 

Hg were analyzed at the beginning and end of the instrumental 

runs to confirm the calibration status of the DMA-80 system; 

percent errors were within the target of ±10 percent except for 

three cases where percent errors were 12.0, 10.3, and 10.5. 

Reference Materials: Recoveries of Ca, Zn, Cd and Pb 

in three tissue reference materials (NIST SRM 1566b: Oyster 

Tissue, n=5; IAEA SRM 407, n=5; NRCC SRM DORM-2: 

Dogfish Muscle, n=5) ranged from 83 to 108 percent, with one 

higher recovery for Pb (164 percent), and averaged 99 percent. 

Recoveries of Cr, Co, Cd, and Pb in two blood reference materials (SeroNorm 201705: Trace Elements in Whole Blood, 

n=1; ClinChek 8841 Whole Blood, Control Level II, n=1) 

ranged from 100 to 141 percent and averaged 119 percent. 

Recoveries of Hg from eight different tissue reference materials (NIST SRM 966: Bovine Blood, n=2; SeroNorm 201705, 

n=2; ClinChek 8841, n=2; IAEA 407, n=8; NIST RM50: 

Albacore Tuna, n=5; NRCC DOLT-3, n=8; NRCC DORM-2, 

n=6; NIST SRM 2976: Mussel Tissue, n=6) ranged from 98 to 

107 percent and averaged 101 percent.

Method and Instrumental Precision: Method precision 

from the triplicate digestion and analysis of fish fillet (n=8) 

and blood (SeroNorm 201705, n=1) had percent relative standard deviations (%RSDs) for Cr, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb that were 

< 37, except for Pb, which had one higher RSD of 42 percent. 

This degree of variability for Pb is not unusual for tissues containing low Pb concentrations. The RSDs for Ca were highly 

variable, apparently because of variability in bone content in 

the fillets; these ranged from 0.8 to 131 percent. The RSDs 

for Hg (n=8) were all ≤ 4 percent. Method precision from the 

duplicate analysis of blood (ClinCheck 8841, n=1) and fish 

fillets (n=1), measured as relative percent difference (RPD), 

ranged from 5.4 to 36 percent, with higher RPDs for Cd (64 

percent, blood) and Pb (47 percent, fish). Instrumental precision measured as RPD from the analysis of fish fillet (n= 13) 

and blood (n=4) duplicate digestates was < 10 percent. 

Spikes: Spike recoveries of Cr, Co, Cd, and Pb from reference blood materials (n=4) ranged from 96 to 122 percent and 

averaged 103 percent. Recoveries of Ca, Zn, Cd, and Pb spiked 

into fish tissue (n=16) ranged from 79 to 112 percent and 

averaged 99 percent. Recoveries of methylmercury hydroxide 

spiked into fillet tissue (n=16) ranged from 84 to 117 percent. 

Post-digestion or analysis spikes for Cr, Co, Cd, and Pb in hellbender blood (n=6) had recoveries ranging from 96 to 113 percent. Recoveries of analysis spikes of Ca, Zn, Cd, and Pb from 

fish fillet digestates (n=13) ranged from 97 to 109 percent. 

Interference Checks: As a check for potential interferences, dilution percent differences (DPDs) based on fivefold 

dilutions of the blood (n=4) and fish fillet (n=14) digestates 

were determined. DPDs were ≤ 10 percent for all elements 

except Ca. Calcium had DPDs ranging from 12 to 23 percent, indicating the potential of a small interferent for this 

element. A synthetic solution containing high concentrations 

of aluminum, Ca, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, 

potassium, sulfur, carbon, molybdenum, and titanium was 

analyzed to observe the effects of these potential interfering elements on the determination of Cd and Pb concentrations in this matrix. Recoveries were within the ± 20 percent 

target except for one instance for Cr (138 percent) and three 

instances for Cd (134 percent, 138 percent, and 129 percent). 

Cadmium exceeded this target because of an interference 

from molybdenum (Mo) oxide (98Mo16O) on 114Cd caused 

by the high Mo concentration in this synthetic matrix. Such 

a high Mo concentration is not a probable concern for the 

hellbender blood or fish fillet matrix. 

Blank Equivalent Concentrations (BEC): BECs (Ca, Cr, 

Co, Zn, Cd, Pb) for digestion blanks prepared with each batch 

were determined; all BECs were less than the corresponding 

method detection limits (MDLs) except for one instance of 

Zn (0.68 BEC vs 0.27 μg/g MDL) and three instances of Pb 

(0.012 BEC vs 0.011 μg/g MDL; 0.010 BEC vs 0.007 μg/g 

MDL; 0.007 BEC vs 0.003). All BECs for Hg were less than 

the corresponding Hg MDLs.

Instrument Detection, Method Detection, and Method 

Quantitation Limits: Instrument detection limit (IDL) for Hg 

was 0.003 nanograms (ng); the IDLs for other target analytes 

in nanograms per milliliter were as follows: Cr, 0.020; Co, 

0.001; Ca, 2.49; Zn, 1.78; Cd, 0.002; Pb, 0.002. Method detection limits (MDL) were computed in micrograms per gram dry 

weight for each batch of samples as:

 

3 X (SDb

2

 + SD

s

2

)

1/2 

 

where 

SDb = standard deviation of a blank (n=3); 

and 

SD

s = standard deviation of a low level sample or 

spiked sample (n=3); and were as follows:

Cr, 0.13; Co, 0.005; Ca, 3.40 to 11.4; Zn, 0.27 and 0.54; 

Cd, 0.002 to 0.014; Hg, 0.002 to 0.017; Pb, 0.003 to 0.018. 

Method quantitation limits (MQLs) were calculated in micrograms per gram dry weight as 3.3 x MDLs and were as follows: Cr, 0.43; Co, 0.017; Ca, 11.2 to 37.6; Zn, 0.89 and 1.78; 

Cd, 0.007 to 0.046; Hg, 0.008 to 0.056; Pb, 0.010 to 0.059.

All quality control results for the study were within acceptable 

limits as specified by USGS-CERC.
References Cited 5

References Cited

Schmitt, C.J., and Finger, S.E., 1987, The effects of sample 

preparation on measured concentrations of eight elements 

in edible tissues of fish from streams contaminated by lead 

mining: Archives of Environmental Contamination and 

Toxicology, v. 16, p.185–207.

United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1998, 

Mercury in solids and solutions by thermal decomposition, 

amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry: 

accessed August 28, 2007, at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/

hazwaste/test/up4a.htm#7_series.

United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2001, Water 

quality criterion for protection of human health: methylmercury: United States Environmental Protection Agency, 

EPA–823–R–01–001, January 2001, Office of Water, Washington, D.C., 16 p.
6 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs
Tables 

7

Tables
8 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs Table 1. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead and lead/calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General Contaminant Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued [USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only] USGS ID number Field ID Fish common name Moisture (percent) Calcium (μg/g dry weight) Cadmium (μg/g dry weight) Mercury (μg/g dry weight) Lead (μg/g dry weight) Lead/calcium molar ratio (1X10-6) 38400 2006-297-232-1 blue catfish 76.9 334 0.015 0.41 0.050 29.0 38401 2006-297-232-2 blue catfish 67.8 183 < 0.007 0.25 0.022 23.3 38402 2006-297-232-3 blue catfish 70.2 257 < 0.007 0.16 0.026 19.6 38403 2006-297-232-4 blue catfish 79.8 342 < 0.007 0.96 0.028 15.8 38404 2006-297-232-5 blue catfish 76.9 280 < 0.007 1.13 0.028 19.3 38405 2006-297-232-6 blue catfish 80.6 470 < 0.007 1.00 0.067 27.6 38406 2006-297-232-7 blue catfish 77.6 398 0.012 1.16 0.081 39.4 38407 2006-297-232-8 blue catfish 66.3 200 0.021 1.03 0.51 493 38411 2006-331-232-1 blue catfish 84.2 393 0.041 2.49 0.033 16.2 38412 2006-331-232-2 blue catfish 70.3 234 0.010 0.23 0.025 20.7 38413 2006-331-232-3 blue catfish 79.8 344 0.015 2.76 0.023 12.9 38414 2006-331-232-4 blue catfish 78.1 284 < 0.007 0.47 0.036 24.5 38415 2006-331-232-5 blue catfish 74.6 217 < 0.007 0.60 0.041 36.5 38416 2006-331-232-6 blue catfish 80.7 309 0.036 5.57 0.036 22.5 38417 2006-331-232-7 blue catfish 70.3 175 0.013 0.92 < 0.011 12.2 38418 2006-331-232-8 blue catfish 71.7 207 < 0.007 0.71 < 0.011 10.3 38408 2006-312-230-1 channel catfish 80.6 395 < 0.007 0.32 0.048 23.5 38409 2006-312-230-2 channel catfish 79.9 339 0.008 0.54 0.012 6.8 38410 2006-312-230-3 channel catfish 80.2 334 < 0.007 0.49 0.028 16.2 38419 2006-618-230-1 channel catfish 84.4 399 0.013 1.65 0.065 31.5 38420 2006-618-230-2 channel catfish 83.9 609 < 0.007 0.40 0.10 31.8 38421 2006-618-230-3 channel catfish 82.4 390 0.013 0.99 0.032 15.9 38428 2006-705-245-1 flathead catfish 81.6 403 < 0.007 1.45 0.017 8.16 38429 2006-705-245-2 flathead catfish 81.6 479 < 0.007 1.19 0.047 19.0 38430 2006-705-245-3 flathead catfish 80.4 388 0.087 2.57 0.10 49.9 38431 2006-705-245-4 flathead catfish 82.7 475 0.025 1.82 0.062 25.2 38432 2006-705-245-5 flathead catfish 83.4 485 0.017 0.88 0.029 11.6 38433 2006-705-245-6 flathead catfish 81.3 454 0.010 1.40 0.034 14.5 38434 2006-705-245-7 flathead catfish 80.5 430 0.012 1.05 0.056 25.2 38435 2006-705-245-8 flathead catfish 80.0 381 0.032 1.34 0.063 32.0 38436 2006-705-245-9 flathead catfish 81.9 445 0.023 1.28 0.027 11.7
Tables 

9

Table 1. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead and lead/calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General Contaminant Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only]

USGS ID

number Field ID

Fish

common name

Moisture

(percent)

Calcium

(μg/g dry weight)

Cadmium

(μg/g dry weight)

Mercury

(μg/g dry weight)

Lead

(μg/g dry weight)

Lead/calcium

 molar ratio 

(1X10-6)

38437 2006-705-245-10 flathead catfish 83.3 446 < 0.007 0.87 0.047 20.438438 2006-705-245-11 flathead catfish 81.2 472 0.014 1.07 0.066 27.038439 2006-705-245-12 flathead catfish 81.0 425 0.092 0.83 0.025 11.438440 2006-706-245-1 flathead catfish 82.2 685 0.028 0.87 0.017 4.8038441 2006-120-068-1 redhorse 78.3 1,930 0.026 0.090 0.23 23.138442 2006-120-068-2 redhorse 79.0 2,670 0.029 0.14 0.35 25.438443 2006-120-068-3 redhorse 79.4 2,610 0.029 0.11 0.34 25.238449 2006-411-068-1 redhorse 80.4 2,530 0.023 0.35 0.064 4.8938450 2006-411-068-2 redhorse 80.3 1,160 0.033 0.35 0.092 15.338451 2006-411-068-3 redhorse 79.7 2,020 0.013 0.26 0.059 5.6538484 2006-712-060-1 redhorse 81.4 1,370 0.035 0.12 0.16 22.638485 2006-712-060-2 redhorse 80.7 1,180 0.020 0.14 0.11 18.038486 2006-712-060-3 redhorse 80.7 3,210 0.011 0.11 0.11 6.6338454 2006-654-062-1 golden redhorse 79.4 987 0.009 0.23 0.055 10.838455 2006-654-062-2 golden redhorse 79.2 1,960 0.007 0.24 0.14 13.838456 2006-654-062-3 golden redhorse 79.8 1,100 < 0.006 0.26 0.090 15.838460 2006-707-062-1 golden redhorse 79.9 2,270 0.016 0.35 0.19 16.238461 2006-707-062-2 golden redhorse 79.3 1,040 0.014 0.27 0.079 14.738462 2006-707-062-3 golden redhorse 78.5 1,290 0.011 0.28 0.082 12.338466 2006-708-062-1 golden redhorse 81.0 1,950 0.009 0.45 0.14 13.938467 2006-708-062-2 golden redhorse 80.8 1,810 0.016 0.49 0.14 15.038468 2006-708-062-3 golden redhorse 80.0 1,380 0.028 0.49 0.090 12.638472 2006-709-062-1 golden redhorse 80.0 1,220 < 0.006 0.32 0.30 47.638473 2006-709-062-2 golden redhorse 80.5 1,700 < 0.006 0.16 0.42 47.838474 2006-709-062-3 golden redhorse 80.5 1,310 0.008 0.23 0.40 59.138422 2006-703-406-1 largemouth bass 80.1 705 < 0.014 1.87 0.021 5.7638423 2006-703-406-2 largemouth bass 80.0 421 < 0.014 1.52 < 0.018 8.2738424 2006-703-406-3 largemouth bass 80.7 391 < 0.014 2.41 0.038 18.838425 2006-704-406-1 largemouth bass 80.5 434 < 0.014 2.30 < 0.018 8.0238426 2006-704-406-2 largemouth bass 79.6 354 < 0.014 2.09 0.018 9.8438427 2006-704-406-3 largemouth bass 80.5 363 < 0.014 1.56 < 0.018 9.59
10 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs Table 1. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead and lead/calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General Contaminant Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued [USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only] USGS ID number Field ID Fish common name Moisture (percent) Calcium (μg/g dry weight) Cadmium (μg/g dry weight) Mercury (μg/g dry weight) Lead (μg/g dry weight) Lead/calcium molar ratio (1X10-6) 38444 2006-120-400-1 spotted bass 79.3 370 0.032 0.31 0.076 39.7 38445 2006-120-400-2 spotted bass 79.3 397 0.028 0.13 0.081 39.5 38452 2006-411-406-1 black bass 80.0 403 < 0.014 0.50 0.027 13.0 38453 2006-411-406-2 black bass 79.9 1,160 < 0.014 0.45 0.033 5.50 38487 2006-712-426-1 rock bass 80.5 1,410 < 0.014 0.11 0.035 4.80 38488 2006-712-426-2 rock bass 80.8 1,720 < 0.014 0.15 0.020 2.25 38489 2006-712-426-3 rock bass 81.0 1,130 < 0.014 0.13 0.043 7.36 38446 2006-172-318-1 walleye 78.2 615 < 0.014 2.46 < 0.018 5.66 38447 2006-172-318-2 walleye 78.1 560 < 0.014 2.16 < 0.018 6.22 38448 2006-172-318-3 walleye 78.0 403 < 0.014 2.34 < 0.018 8.64 38478 2006-710-318-1 walleye 79.0 394 < 0.014 1.59 < 0.018 8.84 38479 2006-710-318-2 walleye 79.4 576 < 0.014 2.65 < 0.018 6.05 38480 2006-710-318-3 walleye 78.0 429 < 0.014 2.61 < 0.018 8.12 38481 2006-711-318-1 walleye 80.4 863 < 0.014 2.30 < 0.018 4.03 38482 2006-711-318-2 walleye 79.8 315 < 0.014 3.72 < 0.018 11.1 38483 2006-711-318-3 walleye 79.9 309 < 0.014 2.51 < 0.018 11.3 38457 2006-654-420-1 longear sunfish 77.8 8,640 < 0.014 0.25 0.67 15.0 38458 2006-654-420-2 longear sunfish 77.1 4,950 < 0.014 0.22 0.46 18.0 38459 2006-654-420-3 longear sunfish 77.7 2,860 < 0.014 0.27 0.35 23.7 38463 2006-707-420-1 longear sunfish 77.5 6,130 0.28 0.24 0.55 17.4 38464 2006-707-420-2 longear sunfish 77.9 7,820 0.044 0.23 0.69 17.1 38465 2006-707-420-3 longear sunfish 78.1 5,240 0.040 0.30 0.58 21.4 38469 2006-708-420-1 longear sunfish 78.7 6,610 0.027 0.36 0.67 19.6 38470 2006-708-420-2 longear sunfish 79.0 3,400 0.016 0.40 0.30 17.1 38471 2006-708-420-3 longear sunfish 80.5 10,770 0.019 0.40 0.58 10.4 38475 2006-709-420-1 longear sunfish 80.1 3,860 0.014 0.17 1.23 61.6 38476 2006-709-420-2 longear sunfish 79.5 2,970 0.025 0.12 0.63 41.0 38477 2006-709-420-3 longear sunfish 80.5 2,490 < 0.014 0.15 0.60 46.6
Tables 11

Table 2. Wet weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General 

Contaminant Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; 

bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only]

USGS ID

number Field ID

Fish

common name

Calcium

(μg/g wet weight)

Cadmium

(μg/g wet weight)

Mercury

(μg/g wet weight)

Lead

(μg/g wet weight)

38400 2006-297-232-1 blue catfish 77 0.003 0.095 0.012

38401 2006-297-232-2 blue catfish 59 < 0.002 0.082 0.007

38402 2006-297-232-3 blue catfish 76 < 0.002 0.049 0.008

38403 2006-297-232-4 blue catfish 69 < 0.001 0.19 0.006

38404 2006-297-232-5 blue catfish 65 < 0.002 0.26 0.006

38405 2006-297-232-6 blue catfish 91 < 0.001 0.19 0.013

38406 2006-297-232-7 blue catfish 89 0.003 0.26 0.018

38407 2006-297-232-8 blue catfish 67 0.007 0.35 0.17

38411 2006-331-232-1 blue catfish 62 0.006 0.39 0.005

38412 2006-331-232-2 blue catfish 69 0.003 0.070 0.007

38413 2006-331-232-3 blue catfish 69 0.003 0.56 0.005

38414 2006-331-232-4 blue catfish 62 < 0.002 0.10 0.008

38415 2006-331-232-5 blue catfish 55 < 0.002 0.15 0.010

38416 2006-331-232-6 blue catfish 59 0.007 1.07 0.007

38417 2006-331-232-7 blue catfish 52 0.004 0.27 < 0.003

38418 2006-331-232-8 blue catfish 59 < 0.002 0.20 < 0.003

38408 2006-312-230-1 channel catfish 77 < 0.001 0.062 0.009

38409 2006-312-230-2 channel catfish 68 0.002 0.11 0.002

38410 2006-312-230-3 channel catfish 66 < 0.001 0.096 0.006

38419 2006-618-230-1 channel catfish 62 0.002 0.26 0.010

38420 2006-618-230-2 channel catfish 98 < 0.001 0.065 0.02

38421 2006-618-230-3 channel catfish 69 0.002 0.17 0.006

38428 2006-705-245-1 flathead catfish 74 < 0.001 0.27 0.003

38429 2006-705-245-2 flathead catfish 88 < 0.001 0.22 0.009

38430 2006-705-245-3 flathead catfish 76 0.017 0.50 0.02

38431 2006-705-245-4 flathead catfish 82 0.004 0.32 0.011

38432 2006-705-245-5 flathead catfish 80 0.003 0.15 0.005

38433 2006-705-245-6 flathead catfish 85 0.002 0.26 0.006

38434 2006-705-245-7 flathead catfish 84 0.002 0.20 0.011

38435 2006-705-245-8 flathead catfish 76 0.006 0.27 0.013

38436 2006-705-245-9 flathead catfish 81 0.004 0.23 0.005

38437 2006-705-245-10 flathead catfish 74 < 0.001 0.15 0.008

38438 2006-705-245-11 flathead catfish 89 0.003 0.20 0.012

38439 2006-705-245-12 flathead catfish 81 0.017 0.16 0.005

38440 2006-706-245-1 flathead catfish 122 0.005 0.15 0.003

38441 2006-120-068-1 redhorse 419 0.006 0.019 0.050

38442 2006-120-068-2 redhorse 560 0.006 0.029 0.073

38443 2006-120-068-3 redhorse 537 0.006 0.023 0.070

38449 2006-411-068-1 redhorse 497 0.005 0.070 0.013

38450 2006-411-068-2 redhorse 228 0.006 0.068 0.018

38451 2006-411-068-3 redhorse 411 0.003 0.052 0.012

38484 2006-712-060-1 redhorse 255 0.007 0.022 0.030

38485 2006-712-060-2 redhorse 228 0.004 0.027 0.021

38486 2006-712-060-3 redhorse 618 0.002 0.020 0.021

38454 2006-654-062-1 golden redhorse 203 0.002 0.047 0.011
12 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs

Table 2. Wet weight concentrations of calcium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 General 

Contaminant Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; 

bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only]

USGS ID

number Field ID

Fish

common name

Calcium

(μg/g wet weight)

Cadmium

(μg/g wet weight)

Mercury

(μg/g wet weight)

Lead

(μg/g wet weight)

38455 2006-654-062-2 golden redhorse 408 0.001 0.049 0.029

38456 2006-654-062-3 golden redhorse 222 < 0.001 0.053 0.018

38460 2006-707-062-1 golden redhorse 456 0.003 0.070 0.038

38461 2006-707-062-2 golden redhorse 215 0.003 0.056 0.016

38462 2006-707-062-3 golden redhorse 277 0.002 0.061 0.018

38466 2006-708-062-1 golden redhorse 370 0.002 0.085 0.027

38467 2006-708-062-2 golden redhorse 348 0.003 0.095 0.027

38468 2006-708-062-3 golden redhorse 276 0.006 0.099 0.018

38472 2006-709-062-1 golden redhorse 244 < 0.001 0.065 0.060

38473 2006-709-062-2 golden redhorse 332 < 0.001 0.032 0.082

38474 2006-709-062-3 golden redhorse 255 0.002 0.045 0.078

38422 2006-703-406-1 largemouth bass 141 < 0.003 0.37 0.004

38423 2006-703-406-2 largemouth bass 84.2 < 0.003 0.30 < 0.004

38424 2006-703-406-3 largemouth bass 75.6 < 0.003 0.47 0.007

38425 2006-704-406-1 largemouth bass 84.5 < 0.003 0.45 < 0.004

38426 2006-704-406-2 largemouth bass 72.4 < 0.003 0.43 0.004

38427 2006-704-406-3 largemouth bass 70.7 < 0.003 0.30 < 0.004

38444 2006-120-400-1 spotted bass 76.5 0.007 0.063 0.016

38445 2006-120-400-2 spotted bass 82.0 0.006 0.028 0.017

38452 2006-411-406-1 black bass 80.5 < 0.003 0.099 0.005

38453 2006-411-406-2 black bass 233 < 0.003 0.090 0.007

38487 2006-712-426-1 rock bass 276 < 0.003 0.021 0.007

38488 2006-712-426-2 rock bass 330 < 0.003 0.028 0.004

38489 2006-712-426-3 rock bass 215 < 0.003 0.025 0.008

38446 2006-172-318-1 walleye 134 < 0.003 0.54 < 0.004

38447 2006-172-318-2 walleye 122 < 0.003 0.47 < 0.004

38448 2006-172-318-3 walleye 88 < 0.003 0.51 < 0.004

38478 2006-710-318-1 walleye 83 < 0.003 0.34 < 0.004

38479 2006-710-318-2 walleye 118 < 0.003 0.54 < 0.004

38480 2006-710-318-3 walleye 95 < 0.003 0.58 < 0.004

38481 2006-711-318-1 walleye 169 < 0.003 0.45 < 0.004

38482 2006-711-318-2 walleye 64 < 0.003 0.75 < 0.004

38483 2006-711-318-3 walleye 62 < 0.003 0.50 < 0.004

38457 2006-654-420-1 longear sunfish 1,920 < 0.003 0.055 0.15

38458 2006-654-420-2 longear sunfish 1,130 < 0.003 0.050 0.11

38459 2006-654-420-3 longear sunfish 639 < 0.003 0.061 0.08

38463 2006-707-420-1 longear sunfish 1,380 0.063 0.054 0.12

38464 2006-707-420-2 longear sunfish 1,730 0.010 0.050 0.15

38465 2006-707-420-3 longear sunfish 1,150 0.009 0.065 0.13

38469 2006-708-420-1 longear sunfish 1,410 0.006 0.076 0.14

38470 2006-708-420-2 longear sunfish 714 0.003 0.083 0.06

38471 2006-708-420-3 longear sunfish 2,110 0.004 0.078 0.11

38475 2006-709-420-1 longear sunfish 769 0.003 0.033 0.25

38476 2006-709-420-2 longear sunfish 608 0.005 0.024 0.13

38477 2006-709-420-3 longear sunfish 487 < 0.003 0.030 0.12
Tables 13

Table 3. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead and lead/calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Resource Assessment and Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only]

USGS ID

number Field ID

Fish

common name

Moisture

(percent)

Calcium

(μg/g dry 

weight)

Zinc

(μg/g dry 

weight)

Cadmium

(μg/g dry 

weight)

Mercury

(μg/g dry 

weight)

Lead

(μg/g dry 

weight)

Lead/calcium

 molar ratio 

(1X10-6)

38493 2006-807-420-1 longear sunfish 81.4 995 26.8 0.028 0.072 0.056 10.9

38494 2006-807-420-2 longear sunfish 82.3 1,280 28.3 0.008 0.053 0.050 7.5638495 2006-807-420-3 longear sunfish 82.6 2,280 31.5 0.017 0.16 0.092 7.8138516 2006-862-420-1 longear sunfish 82.8 4,490 54.3 0.084 0.44 0.032 1.3838517 2006-862-420-2 longear sunfish 82.1 3,850 33.7 0.013 0.21 0.030 1.5138518 2006-862-420-3 longear sunfish 82.0 668 28.8 0.033 0.47 0.025 7.2438531 2006-867-420-1 longear sunfish 80.5 2,080 23.3 0.043 0.18 0.009 0.8438532 2006-867-420-2 longear sunfish 81.3 677 26.5 0.030 0.27 < 0.007 2.0038533 2006-867-420-3 longear sunfish 82.3 2,660 29.1 0.023 0.30 < 0.007 0.5138522 2006-864-424-1 bluegill 80.8 487 35.1 0.013 0.20 0.075 29.838523 2006-864-424-2 bluegill 80.5 397 33.1 0.018 0.27 0.082 40.038524 2006-864-424-3 bluegill 80.2 396 25.4 0.015 0.13 0.032 15.638529 2006-866-412-2 green sunfish 83.1 2,140 26.3 0.093 0.66 0.033 2.9838530 2006-866-412-3 green sunfish 81.3 484 26.5 0.071 0.53 0.010 4.0038534 2006-868-412-1 green sunfish 78.9 787 30.5 0.048 0.74 < 0.007 1.7238535 2006-868-412-2 green sunfish 80.1 731 25.8 0.018 0.59 < 0.007 1.8538536 2006-869-412-1 green sunfish 81.0 1,020 27.9 0.043 0.26 0.024 4.5538537 2006-869-412-2 green sunfish 80.9 494 25.0 0.019 0.18 0.023 9.0138538 2006-869-412-3 green sunfish 80.9 432 25.6 0.015 0.18 0.028 12.538539 2006-870-412-1 green sunfish 80.3 361 21.4 0.41 0.27 0.037 19.838540 2006-870-412-2 green sunfish 79.7 477 23.2 0.074 0.19 0.013 5.2738541 2006-870-412-3 green sunfish 80.9 638 23.4 0.056 0.26 < 0.007 2.1238490 2006-803-412-1 green sunfish 79.8 369 24.0 0.43 0.24 0.030 15.738491 2006-803-412-2 green sunfish 79.4 362 22.1 0.085 0.18 0.011 5.8838492 2006-803-412-3 green sunfish 79.7 550 25.7 0.075 0.48 0.014 4.9238496 2006-855-412-1 green sunfish 81.4 670 34.6 0.014 0.21 0.018 5.2038497 2006-855-412-2 green sunfish 81.6 679 28.2 < 0.008 0.31 < 0.003 0.85
14 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs Table 3. Dry weight concentrations of calcium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead and lead/calcium molar ratios in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Resource Assessment and Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued [USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only] USGS ID number Field ID Fish common name Moisture (percent) Calcium (μg/g dry weight) Zinc (μg/g dry weight) Cadmium (μg/g dry weight) Mercury (μg/g dry weight) Lead (μg/g dry weight) Lead/calcium molar ratio (1X10-6) 38498 2006-855-412-3 green sunfish 80.5 824 30.7 0.010 0.39 0.007 1.64 38499 2006-856-412-1 green sunfish 81.6 1,590 27.9 0.059 0.64 0.21 25.5 38500 2006-856-412-2 green sunfish 82.7 360 27.8 0.029 0.36 0.064 34.4 38501 2006-856-412-3 green sunfish 82.0 682 29.2 0.017 0.44 0.10 28.4 38502 2006-857-412-1 green sunfish 80.2 1,810 37.1 0.087 0.74 0.016 1.71 38503 2006-857-412-2 green sunfish 80.9 713 42.3 0.014 0.90 0.008 2.17 38504 2006-858-412-1 green sunfish 81.0 436 21.2 0.028 0.050 0.021 9.32 38505 2006-858-412-2 green sunfish 81.5 359 24.4 0.012 0.088 0.011 5.93 38506 2006-858-412-3 green sunfish 81.1 1,870 25.3 0.017 0.068 0.019 1.97 38507 2006-859-412-1 green sunfish 81.6 1,560 45.0 0.029 0.49 0.044 5.46 38508 2006-859-412-2 green sunfish 80.5 1,410 27.7 0.009 0.26 0.026 3.57 38509 2006-859-412-3 green sunfish 80.0 2,920 23.8 < 0.008 0.31 0.008 0.53 38510 2006-860-412-1 green sunfish 81.2 817 28.5 0.057 0.44 0.038 9.00 38511 2006-860-412-2 green sunfish 82.0 627 26.6 0.015 0.53 0.010 3.09 38512 2006-860-412-3 green sunfish 81.5 948 25.8 0.017 0.42 0.015 3.06 38513 2006-861-412-1 green sunfish 79.0 514 26.2 0.021 0.78 0.024 9.03 38514 2006-861-412-2 green sunfish 81.6 357 24.7 0.012 0.45 0.014 7.59 38515 2006-861-412-3 green sunfish 80.4 378 24.1 < 0.008 0.53 0.011 5.63 38519 2006-863-412-1 green sunfish 79.7 376 23.8 0.027 0.15 0.096 49.4 38520 2006-863-412-2 green sunfish 79.2 401 20.9 0.024 0.14 0.011 5.31 38521 2006-863-412-3 green sunfish 80.6 369 29.9 0.038 0.24 0.011 5.77 38525 2006-865-412-1 green sunfish 80.3 439 24.8 0.023 0.38 0.031 13.7 38526 2006-865-412-2 green sunfish 81.0 558 23.3 0.009 0.32 0.019 6.59 38527 2006-865-412-3 green sunfish 79.0 875 23.2 0.024 0.27 0.025 5.53 38528 2006-866-412-1 green sunfish 81.6 1,320 28.2 0.17 0.52 0.014 2.05
Tables 15

Table 4. Wet weight concentrations of calcium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Resource Assessment and Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only]

USGS ID

number Field ID Fish common name Calcium (μg/g wet weight) Zinc (μg/g wet weight) Cadmium (μg/g wet weight) Mercury (μg/g wet weight) Lead (μg/g wet weight)

38493 2006-807-420-1 longear sunfish 185 4.98 0.005 0.013 0.01038494 2006-807-420-2 longear sunfish 227 5.01 0.001 0.009 0.00938495 2006-807-420-3 longear sunfish 396 5.47 0.003 0.027 0.01638516 2006-862-420-1 longear sunfish 770 9.32 0.014 0.076 0.00538517 2006-862-420-2 longear sunfish 689 6.03 0.002 0.037 0.00538518 2006-862-420-3 longear sunfish 120 5.19 0.006 0.084 0.00538531 2006-867-420-1 longear sunfish 406 4.55 0.008 0.035 0.00238532 2006-867-420-2 longear sunfish 126 4.95 0.006 0.051 < 0.00138533 2006-867-420-3 longear sunfish 470 5.14 0.004 0.054 < 0.00138522 2006-864-424-1 bluegill 93.4 6.73 0.002 0.038 0.01438523 2006-864-424-2 bluegill 77.5 6.47 0.004 0.052 0.01638524 2006-864-424-3 bluegill 78.6 5.04 0.003 0.025 0.00638529 2006-866-412-2 green sunfish 361 4.43 0.016 0.11 0.00638530 2006-866-412-3 green sunfish 90.3 4.95 0.013 0.099 0.00238534 2006-868-412-1 green sunfish 166 6.43 0.010 0.16 < 0.00138535 2006-868-412-2 green sunfish 146 5.14 0.004 0.12 < 0.00138536 2006-869-412-1 green sunfish 194 5.29 0.008 0.049 0.00538537 2006-869-412-2 green sunfish 94.4 4.78 0.004 0.034 0.00438538 2006-869-412-3 green sunfish 82.4 4.88 0.003 0.034 0.00538539 2006-870-412-1 green sunfish 70.9 4.21 0.081 0.053 0.00738540 2006-870-412-2 green sunfish 96.6 4.70 0.015 0.039 0.00338541 2006-870-412-3 green sunfish 122 4.47 0.011 0.049 < 0.00138490 2006-803-412-1 green sunfish 75 4.85 0.087 0.049 0.00638491 2006-803-412-2 green sunfish 75 4.56 0.018 0.037 0.00238492 2006-803-412-3 green sunfish 112 5.22 0.015 0.097 0.00338496 2006-855-412-1 green sunfish 125 6.45 0.003 0.039 0.00338497 2006-855-412-2 green sunfish 125 5.18 < 0.001 0.057 < 0.00138498 2006-855-412-3 green sunfish 160 5.98 0.002 0.077 0.001
16 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs Table 4. Wet weight concentrations of calcium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Resource Assessment and Monitoring fish fillets.—Continued [USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only] USGS ID number Field ID Fish common name Calcium (μg/g wet weight) Zinc (μg/g wet weight) Cadmium (μg/g wet weight) Mercury (μg/g wet weight) Lead (μg/g wet weight) 38499 2006-856-412-1 green sunfish 293 5.15 0.011 0.118 0.039 38500 2006-856-412-2 green sunfish 62 4.82 0.005 0.063 0.011 38501 2006-856-412-3 green sunfish 123 5.25 0.003 0.080 0.018 38502 2006-857-412-1 green sunfish 358 7.35 0.017 0.147 0.003 38503 2006-857-412-2 green sunfish 136 8.08 0.003 0.172 0.002 38504 2006-858-412-1 green sunfish 83 4.02 0.005 0.009 0.004 38505 2006-858-412-2 green sunfish 67 4.52 0.002 0.016 0.002 38506 2006-858-412-3 green sunfish 354 4.79 0.003 0.013 0.004 38507 2006-859-412-1 green sunfish 288 8.30 0.005 0.091 0.008 38508 2006-859-412-2 green sunfish 274 5.39 0.002 0.050 0.005 38509 2006-859-412-3 green sunfish 583 4.76 < 0.002 0.063 0.002 38510 2006-860-412-1 green sunfish 153 5.35 0.011 0.082 0.007 38511 2006-860-412-2 green sunfish 113 4.79 0.003 0.096 0.002 38512 2006-860-412-3 green sunfish 176 4.78 0.003 0.078 0.003 38513 2006-861-412-1 green sunfish 108 5.50 0.004 0.163 0.005 38514 2006-861-412-2 green sunfish 66 4.56 0.002 0.083 0.003 38515 2006-861-412-3 green sunfish 74 4.72 < 0.002 0.105 0.002 38519 2006-863-412-1 green sunfish 77 4.84 0.005 0.031 0.020 38520 2006-863-412-2 green sunfish 83 4.34 0.005 0.029 0.002 38521 2006-863-412-3 green sunfish 71 5.79 0.007 0.047 0.002 38525 2006-865-412-1 green sunfish 87 4.89 0.005 0.075 0.006 38526 2006-865-412-2 green sunfish 106 4.42 0.002 0.061 0.004 38527 2006-865-412-3 green sunfish 184 4.88 0.005 0.056 0.005 38528 2006-866-412-1 green sunfish 242 5.18 0.031 0.096 0.003
Tables 17

Table 5. Concentrations of chromium, cobalt, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Hellbender Monitoring Program hellbender blood.—Continued[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only]

USGS ID

number

Moisture

(percent)

Chromium

(μg/g dry weight)

Cobalt

(μg/g dry weight)

Cadmium

(μg/g dry weight)

Mercury

(μg/g dry weight)

Lead

(μg/g dry weight)

38542 88.9 0.39 0.43 0.023 0.13 0.03038543 85.4 0.76 0.76 0.022 0.11 0.04338544 82.9 1.69 0.75 0.019 0.089 0.03838545 86.6 0.59 0.96 0.026 0.11 0.03938546 86.6 0.72 1.41 0.032 0.11 0.04038547 86.9 0.67 0.84 0.011 0.081 0.03838548 85.4 0.69 1.12 0.017 0.080 0.06638549 88.8 0.58 0.89 0.018 0.16 0.03938550 89.3 1.63 1.37 0.030 0.12 0.06638551 88.1 0.47 0.27 < 0.002 0.51 0.07038552 86.3 0.97 0.24 0.010 0.23 0.04238553 86.2 0.58 0.27 0.010 0.64 0.09938554 85.9 0.54 0.31 0.003 0.40 0.1138555 88.1 0.34 0.42 0.004 0.59 0.04738556 88.4 1.11 0.27 0.003 0.57 0.1138557 81.5 0.29 0.25 < 0.002 0.42 0.06338558 86.5 0.21 0.63 0.003 0.36 0.06138559 87.4 0.52 0.39 0.003 0.42 0.06038560 88.8 0.48 0.30 0.003 0.55 0.04838561 88.9 0.78 0.16 < 0.002 0.27 0.04538562 89.8 1.17 0.85 < 0.002 0.32 0.1838563 88.2 0.63 0.25 0.003 0.21 0.1638564 88.9 1.00 0.74 < 0.002 0.55 0.1638565 84.5 0.55 0.12 < 0.002 0.54 0.02938566 86.5 0.59 0.23 < 0.002 0.35 0.06138567 87.2 2.16 0.24 0.003 0.38 0.07338568 85.9 1.03 0.38 0.003 0.31 0.06938569 87.9 0.45 0.38 0.004 0.22 0.096
18 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs Table 5. Concentrations of chromium, cobalt, cadmium, mercury, and lead in Missouri Department of Conservation 2006 Hellbender Monitoring Program hellbender blood.—Continued [USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identification; μg/g, microgram per gram; <, less than; MDL, Method Detection Limit; MQL, Method Quantitation Limit; bold and italicized values are greater than MDL but less than MQL; these values have high uncertainty and are presented for information purposes only] USGS ID number Moisture (percent) Chromium (μg/g dry weight) Cobalt (μg/g dry weight) Cadmium (μg/g dry weight) Mercury (μg/g dry weight) Lead (μg/g dry weight) 38570 86.5 < 0.13 0.068 0.003 0.65 0.033 38571 89.0 0.34 0.27 < 0.002 0.38 0.084 38572 83.6 0.38 0.34 < 0.002 0.36 0.091 38573 94.7 6.87 0.96 0.11 0.10 0.15 38574 86.6 0.52 0.84 0.004 0.23 0.027 38575 86.7 2.17 0.48 0.008 0.15 0.052 38576 89.7 1.71 0.19 0.012 0.17 0.23 38577 87.1 1.09 0.28 < 0.002 0.13 0.073 38578 87.1 1.15 0.36 < 0.002 0.15 0.12 38579 88.0 1.76 0.25 0.003 0.20 0.098 38580 85.4 0.57 0.44 < 0.002 0.15 0.037 38581 85.9 1.87 0.45 < 0.002 0.23 0.045 38582 86.4 2.52 0.55 < 0.002 0.17 0.046 38583 85.2 0.99 1.11 0.022 0.35 0.028 38584 87.5 1.17 1.32 0.027 0.30 0.056 38585 83.3 1.53 0.75 0.057 0.39 0.044 38586 85.2 0.79 0.62 0.015 0.37 0.013 38587 86.8 1.51 0.56 0.022 0.24 0.039 38588 86.1 0.34 1.21 0.007 0.44 0.18 38589 85.1 0.47 0.53 0.008 0.48 0.038 38590 87.6 1.91 0.82 0.012 0.48 0.050 38591 85.8 1.88 0.69 0.007 0.38 0.044 38592 84.0 0.49 0.54 0.013 0.37 0.045 38593 84.9 0.30 0.68 0.014 0.20 0.026 38594 86.1 0.19 0.76 0.008 0.61 0.056 38595 88.2 0.62 1.15 0.016 0.20 0.041 38596 85.8 0.47 0.53 0.028 0.24 0.054 38597 89.5 1.04 0.77 0.014 0.46 0.053
Tables 19
20 Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs

Publishing support provided by: 

Rolla Publishing Service Center 

For more information concerning this publication, contact:

Director, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center

4200 New Haven Road

Columbia, MO 65201

(573) 875–5399

Or visit the Columbia Environmental Research Center Web site at:

http://www.cerc.usgs.gov

May and others—Concentration of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the 2006 MDC Monitoring Programs—Open-File Report 07–1229

Printed on recycled paper