Fish Contaminant Monitoring and Chemical Services Program

Mark Briggs, Chemist
mark.briggs@state.mn.us
500 Lafayette Rd Box 25
St Paul, MN 55155-4025
tel. (651) 259-5078

Fish Contaminant Monitoring

The goal of this program is to determine the levels and distribution of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish populations from Minnesota's lakes and streams. Fish are collected and tested for these contaminants from approximately 80 bodies of water each year. Staff develop annual monitoring plans for the project, specifying the waterbodies to be sampled, the species, sizes, and numbers of fish desired, and the contaminant(s) to be analyzed for. Fisheries Division field staff conduct the sampling and submit the fish collections to Ecological Resources program staff. After the fish are processed, the tissue samples are sent to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) laboratory for analysis. The results of these analyses are compiled in database files and then provided to the Minnesota Department of Health which uses this information in developing the Minnesota Fish Consumption Advisory. These files are also available to the public upon request. This program utilizes the Department of Natural Resources's (DNR) student intern program by hiring students each year to assist in processing the whole fish into tissue samples.

Chemistry Services

Staff also provide general chemistry services expertise to Division of Fish and Wildlife staff and work with the MDA laboratory to coordinate water quality and other environmental analyses requested by DNR Area Fisheries and Wildlife managers, state fish hatcheries, and other DNR personnel.