Trace metals in ribbed mussels from Arthur Kill, New York/New Jersey, USA

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2003, Vol.46 (1), p.139-145
• Main Authors: Paulson, Anthony J, Sharack, Beth, Zdanowicz, Vincent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Arthur Kill; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalvia; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environmental Exposure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geukensia demissa; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics; Mussels; New Jersey; New York; Tissue Distribution; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace Elements - pharmacokinetics; Trace metals; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water Pollutants - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00312-0

Ribbed mussels Geukensia demissa were collected at seven sites within Arthur Kill, NY/NJ, and concentrations of trace metals were measured. The concentrations of zinc, nickel, copper, and chromium in the mussel tissues tended to decrease between the Old Place site and the Sandy Hook Bay site. Among the metals examined, iron exhibited the highest concentrations, increasing toward the sea. Concentrations of Fe and Cd in mussels collected from sites impacted by a 1990 fuel oil spill were significantly higher than those in mussels from Mill Creek and Sandy Hook Bay, and mussels from the oiled sites showed significantly higher mercury concentrations than mussels from both Mill Creek and Sandy Hook. The extensive concentration data are tabulated. The overall results suggested that ribbed mussels could be used as biological indicators of Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb.