A baseline study of levels of mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead in Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) from different parts of the Barents Sea

► Highest concentration of Hg was found in the western part of the Barents Sea. ► The Hg concentrations were well below the maximum level of 0.5 mg kg−1 ► Arsenic concentrations varied greatly ranging from 0.3 to 170 mg kg−1 ww. ► Shrimp seems to be the most important prey for cod with high concentration of As.