Abnormal arsenic accumulation by fish living in a naturally acidified lake†

Abstract

The fish Tribolodon hakonensis live in good health in

the naturally acidified Lake Usoriko, located in

Aomori Prefecture, Japan, which has been acidified

(pH 3.4–3.8) by sulfuric and hydrochloric acid of volcanic origin. The contents of various metals in various tissues of T. hakonensis, from Lake Usoriko were examined extensively by ICP-AES and it was discovered that large amounts of arsenic were accumulated in the eye tissues. This might be partly related to the fact that the lake water contains relatively large amount of arsenic and little phosphorus.