Freshwater Fish Contaminant Measurements 1970-2005

A compilation of contaminant concentration data analyzed from fish tissue samples collected by the Fresh Water Institute between 1970 and 2005. The dataset includes details on species, region, lake, organ type, fish weight and length, and contaminant levels, with total mercury as the predominant measured contaminant. Concentrations are expressed as ppm or ppb based on wet weight.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in total mercury concentrations across different fish species and lake regions from 1970 to 2005.
• Model contaminant bioaccumulation by correlating fish weight and length measurements with mercury concentration data.
• Compare contaminant levels in different fish organs (e.g., liver vs. muscle tissue) across species and geographic regions.
• Assess regional differences in freshwater contamination by aggregating concentration data by lake and region identifiers.

Strengths

• Covers a long-term monitoring period of 35 years (1970-2005).
• Includes multiple analytical dimensions such as species, organ type, fish morphology (weight, length), and geographic location (region, lake).
• Specifies the measurement basis (wet weight) and units (ppm, ppb) for contaminant concentrations.

Limitations

• The total number of records (rows) and specific features (columns) are not documented, limiting assessment of dataset scale and completeness.
• Data is temporally stale, with the latest measurements from 2005, potentially not reflecting current environmental conditions.
• Geographic coverage is limited to areas monitored by the Fresh Water Institute, which may introduce regional bias.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fresh Water Institute.

Collection Method

Compilation of contaminant data analyzed from fish tissue samples.

Time Range

1970 to 2005.

Freshness

Data last updated in the catalog on 2026-03-24, but the underlying measurements cover 1970-2005.

Geography

Regions and lakes monitored by the Fresh Water Institute (specific locations not detailed).