Abstract
A regulation of internal levels of some essential metals has been observed in various animals, whereas the bioaccumulation of several non-essential metals parallels their overloads in water. In the mussel Mytilus edulis L., we have attempted to determine if such a phenomenon exists by comparing the patterns of accumulation of copper and zinc vs cadmium. With this aim, mussels collected in the Bay of Bourgneuf (France) in November 1983 were exposed to these metals for 16 d. At external levels of zinc as high as 100 μgl-1, mussels were able to maintain a normal concentration in all groups of organs for 4 d. The ability of mussels to limit the bioaccumulation of copper and zinc varied from organ to organ, and decreased with higher levels of contamination and longer periods of exposure. In contrast, at the lowest experimental concentration and the lowest period of exposure, a significant increase of cadmium in mussel tissues was generally observed. Even at the highest sub-lethal doses, the levels of copper and zinc in mussel tissues were not much higher than the natural levels (contaminated:background ratios= 2.3 to 6.1), whereas the bioaccumulation of cadmium was less well restricted (contaminated:background ratios=136 to 192). The use of mussels as a bioindicator of pollution seems doubtful for essential metals, particularly as regards short-term pollution, since the levels of these trace elements in the organisms are largely independent of their concentration in the ambient seawater.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Amiard, J. C., C. Amiard-Triquet and C. Métayer: Experimental study of bioaccumulation, toxicity and regulation of some trace metals in various estuarine and coastal organisms. In: Proceedings of Symposium on Heavy Metals in Water Organisms (Balatonfüred 2–8 Sept. 1984). Symp. Biol. Hung. 29, 313–323 (1985)
Amiard, J. C., C. Amiard-Triquet, B. Berthet and C. Métayer: Contribution to the ecotoxicological study of cadmium lead copper and zinc in the mussel Mytilus edulis I. Field study. Mar. Biol. 90, 425–431 (1986)
Bloom, H. and G. M. Ayling: Heavy metals in the Derwent estuary. Envir. Geol. 2, 3–22 (1977)
Bouquegneau, J. M., F. Noël-Lambot, C. Verthe and A. Disteche: The accumulation of heavy metals in marine organisms. Int. Counc. Explor. Sea Comm. Meet. (Pelagic Fish Comm.) E, 41, 140–156 (1982)
Bryan, G. W.: Bioaccumulation of marine pollutants. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 286, 483–505 (1979)
Bryan, G. W.: Pollution due to heavy metals and their compounds. In: Marine ecology, pp 1289–1431. Ed. by O. Kinne. London: John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1984
Bryan, G. W., G. W. Potts and G. R. Forster: Heavy metals in the gastropod mollusc Haliotis tuberculata (L.). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 57, 379–390 (1977)
Brooks, R. R. and M. G. Rumsby: The biogeochemistry of trace element uptake by some New Zealand bivalves. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10, 521–527 (1965)
Coombs, T. L., T. C. Fletcher and A. White: Interaction of metal ions with mucus from the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.). Biochem. J. 128 (4), 128P-129P (1972)
Cooper, R. J., D. Langlois and J. Olley: Heavy metals in Tasmanian shellfish. 1. Monitoring heavy metal contamination in the Derwent estuary: use of oysters and mussels. J. appl. Toxic. 2, 99–109 (1982)
Davenport, J.: A study of the effects of copper applied continuously and discontinuously to specimens of Mytilus edulis (L.) exposed to steady and fluctuating salinity levels. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 57, 63–74 (1977)
D'Silva, C. and T. W. Kureishy: Experimental studies on the accumulation of copper and zinc in the green mussel. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 9, 187–190 (1978)
Fowler, S. W. and G. Benayoun: Experimental studies on cadmium flux through marine biota. In: Comparative studies of food and environmental contamination, pp 159–178. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency 1974
George, S. G. and T. L. Coombs: The effects of chelating agents on the uptake and accumulation of cadmium by Mytilus edulis. Mar. Biol. 39, 261–268 (1977)
Goldberg, E. D., M. Koide, V. Hodge, A. R. Flegal and J. Martin: U.S. mussel watch: 1977–1978 results on trace metals and radionuclides. Estuar. cstl Shelf Sci. 16, 69–93 (1983)
National Academy of Sciences. The International Mussel Watch, 248 pp. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences 1980
Pentreath R. J.: The accumulation from water of 65Zn, 54Mn, 58Co and 59Fe by the mussel, Mytilus edulis. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 53, 127–143 (1973)
Phillips, D. J. H.: The common mussel Mytilus edulis as an indicator of pollution by zinc, cadmium, lead and copper. II. Relationship of metals in the mussel to those discharged by industry. Mar. Biol. 38, 71–80 (1976)
Phillips, D. J. H. and W. W.-S. Yim: A comparative evaluation of oysters, mussels and sediments as indicators of trace metals in Hong Kong waters. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 6, 285–293 (1981)
Poulsen, E., H. U. Riisgård and F. Møhlenberg. Accumulation of cadmium and bioenergetics in the mussel Mytilus edulis. Mar. Biol. 68, 25–29 (1982)
Radoux, D. and J. M. Bouquegneau: The uptake of mercuric chloride from sea water by Serranus cabrilla. Bull. envir. Contam. Toxic. 22, 771–778 (1979)
Rao, C. R.: Linear statistical inference and its applications, 502 pp. London: John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1973
Ritz, D. A., R. Swain and N. G. Elliott: Use of the mussel Mytilus edulis planulatus (Lamarck) in monitoring heavy metals levels in seawater. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 33, 491–506 (1982)
Scholz, N.: Accumulation, loss and molecular distribution of cadmium in Mytilus edulis. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 33, 68–78 (1980)
Scott, D. M. and C. W. Major: The effect of copper (II) on survival, respiration, and heart rate in the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 143, 679–688 (1972)
Theede, H., I. Andersson and W. Lehnberg: Cadmium in Mytilus edulis from German coastal waters. Meeresforsch. Rep. mar. Res. 27, (Sdbd) 147–155 (1979). (Ber. dt. wiss. Kommn Meeresforsch.)
Westernhagen H. von, V. Dethlefsen, H. Rosenthal, G. Fürstenberg und J. Klinckman: Fate and effects of cadmium in an experimental marine ecosystem. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 31, 471–484 (1978)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated J. M. Pérès, Marseille
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Amiard-Triquet, C., Berthet, B., Metayer, C. et al. Contribution to the ecotoxicological study of cadmium, copper and zinc in the mussel Mytilus edulis . Marine Biology 92, 7–13 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392739
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392739