Determination of aluminum in fish tissue to assess the safety of phosphorus fixing chemicals: the case of two Irish lakes

Bennett JF, Campbell J, Rippey B, Douglas R. 2026. Determination of aluminum in fish tissue to assess the safety of phosphorus fixing chemicals: the case of two Irish lakes. Lake Reserv Manage. 42:52–60.<br/><br/>Phosphorus (P) fixing chemicals have been used for over 4 decades to counteract lake eutrophication by reducing internal P loading. In this study, an aluminum sulfate application was implemented in 2 shallow lakes in Ireland. A treatment targeting the water column added about 1 mg/L or 4 g/m2 of aluminum. Comparison of liver, gill, and muscle tissue from fish captured before and after treatment indicated no increase in aluminum concentrations up to 2 months after treatment. Muscle tissue contained less aluminum than gills or liver. Aluminum concentrations reported in edible fish tissue in these 2 lakes were lower than in multiple other studies and safety thresholds suggested by international health organizations. Despite some limitations of the research, such as the short sampling duration and low treatment dose, no results suggested any potential health hazard from consumption of fish in these treated lakes.