Analysis of Inorganic and Organic Contaminants in Freshwater Mussels from the Big Sunflower River, Mississippi, October 1993.
Abstract
Nine species of freshwater mussels collected from the Big Sunflower River, Mississippi, in 1993 were chemically analyzed for three classes of environmental contaminants. There was a proposal to harvest these animals for their shells and to use the tissues for animal feed. Mussels were collected from eight sites, from River Miles 34.5 to 150 (near Cleveland, MS). The tissues were analyzed for metals, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Metals, including Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, Ni, and Cr, were found at concentrations generally <3.0 ppm dry wt. Hg concentrations were generally <0.2 ppm dry wt. The animals did not contain PCBs, analyzed as Aroclors. at the 5-ppb detection limit. Many pesticides such as toxaphene DDT compounds, chlordane, and dieldrin were found in these mussels. Most of the concentrations were in the <0.1 -ppm wet wt. range; however, the data show that some of these mussels contained toxaphene at concentrations in the 0.2- to 0.4-ppm wet wt. range. The contaminants were not specific to any single site or mussel species but were fairly evenly distributed. Statistical analyses of the contaminants data were used to determine whether the metals or pesticides exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration action limits or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service predator protection limits. Based on these analyses and the levels of toxaphene found in some of the species, recommendations were made that the tissues not be used as animal feed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA295730
Entities
People
- Charles R. Lee
- Henry E. Tatem