Bioaccumulation of Contaminants from Black Rock Harbor Dredged Material by Mussels and Polychaetes.
Abstract
Mussels (Mytilus edulis) and worms (Nereis virens) were exposed in laboratory studies to dredged material from Black Rock Harbor (BRH), Connecticut, to examine the bioaccumulation of organic and inorganic contaminants. Mussels were exposed in a dosing system designed to maintain a constant concentration of suspended particulates and food (algae) in seawater. Control mussels received only food (algae). Monitoring of concentrations of organic and inorganic contaminants showed that the system maintained constant concentrations during exposure. Exposed mussels accumulated organic compounds and some inorganic elements, reaching steady-state values between the first and second weeks of exposure. During the 28-day exposure period, mussels showed increases in concentration of two to three orders of magnitude for organic contaminants, but those metals accumulated showed increases of less than a factor of 12. The polychaete worm N. virens was exposed to BRH bedded sediment in glass aquaria maintained under flowing seawater. Other worms were maintained in reference sediments. Worms exposed for 28 days accumulated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to concentrations one to three orders of magnitude above those found in the reference organisms. Of the metals determined, only Cr and Cu were found to accumulate to concentrations higher than those in the reference worms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA164319
Entities
People
- Gerald L. Hoffman
- James Lake
- Steven C. Schimmel