The present study investigated with the distribution of mercury chloride in muscle, liver and gills of Hoplias
malabaricus contaminated through intraperitoneal injection (6 μg in 0.1mL of PBS) for a period of 24, 48, 72 and
96h. The liver, gill and muscle were analyzed for mercury content in an ICP/AES (Varian Liberty II) with vapor
generating accessory (VGA 77). The muscle and liver tissues presented the same contamination pattern increasing
concentrations in 24 h of exposure with a decrease in Hg concentration with 72 h and a new increase in Hg
concentrations with 96 h of exposure. The Hg concentrations in contaminated organisms were always higher than
the control although only for liver samples the difference was statistically significant. Liver samples always
presented higher Hg contents when compared with gill and muscle samples.
