Abstract
The concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were determined inMytilus edulis from 48 locations in SW Iceland, as well as in moored mussles. The purpose was to establish baseline conditions and to evaluate anthropogenic influences. As reference stations, 34 locations away from population centres, were selected. Data on the metal content of soft tissues were examined in relation to both tissue weight and shell length. The data reveal Pb and Hg contamination in mussels from the vicinity of Reykjavík. Leaded petrol, paints and diffuse urban uses are considered as sources of these anomalies. A comparison is made with published mussel watch results.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Anderson, A. T. and B. B. Neelakantan: Mercury in some organisms from the Oslofjord. Norw. J. Zool.22, 231–235 (1974)
Anon.: Report of the ICES advisory committee on marine pollution, 1979. Co-op Res. Rep. int. Counc. Explor. Sea (Copenhagen)84, 22–24 (1979)
Bjerregaard, P., S. Topçuo glu, N. S. Fisher and S. W. Fowler: Biokinetics of americum and plutonium in the musselMytilus edulis. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.21, 99–111 (1985)
Bourget, E. and D. Cossa: Mercury content of mussels from the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Mar. Pollut. Bull.7, 237–239 (1976)
Boyden, C. R.: Trace element content and body size in molluscs. Nature Lond.251, 311–314 (1974)
Boyden, C. R.: Effect of size upon metal content of shellfish. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.57, 675–714 (1977)
Bøhle, B.: Blaaskjell og blaaskjelldyrkning. Fisken og Havet (B),3, 1–19 (1974)
Cossa D. and E. Bourget: Trace elements inMytilus edulis L. from the estuary and gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada: lead and cadmium concentrations. Environ. Pollut. Ser. A.23, 1–8 (1980)
Cossa, D., E. Bourget and J. Pieuze: Sexual maturation as a source of variation in the relationship between cadmium concentration and body weight ofMytilus edulis L. Mar. Pollut. Bull.10, 174–176 (1979)
Cossa, D., E. Bourget, D. Pouliot, J. Piuze and J. P. Chanut: Geographical and seasonal variations in the relationship between trace metal content and body weight inMytilus edulis. Mar. Biol.58, 7–14 (1980)
Davies, I. M. and J. M. Pirie: The musselMytilus edulis as a bioassay organism for mercury in seawater. Mar. Pollut. Bull.9, 128–132 (1978)
Davies, I. M. and J. M. Pirie: Evaluation of a “mussel watch” project for heavy metals in Scottish coastal waters. Mar. Biol.57, 87–93 (1980)
De Wolf, P.: Mercury content of mussels from west European coasts. Mar. Pollut. Bull.6, 61–63 (1975)
Eganhouse, P. E. and D. R. Young:In situ uptake of mercury by the intertidal mussel,Mytilus Californianus. Mar. Pollut. Bull.9, 214–217 (1978)
Fischer, H.: Shell weight as an independent variable in relation to cadmium content of molluscs. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.12, 59–75 (1983)
Gault, N. F. S., E. L. C. Tolland and J. G. Parker: Spatial and temporal trends in heavy metal concentrations in mussels from northern Ireland coastal waters. Mar. Biol.77, 307–316 (1983)
Goldberg, E. D.: The mussel watch — a first step in global marine monitoring. Mar. Pollut. Bull.6, p 111 (1975)
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)
Holden, A. V. and G. Topping: Report on further intercalibration analyses in ICES monitoring and baseline studies. Co-op Res. Rep. int. Counc. Explor. Sea (Copenhagen)103, 1–75 (1981)
Huntzicker, J. J., S. K. Friedlander and C. I. Davidson: Material balance for automobile-emitted lead in Los Angeles basin. Environ. Sci. Technol.9, 448–457 (1975)
Jackim, E., G. Morrison and R. Steele: Effects of environmental factors on radiocadmium uptake by four species of marine bivalves. Mar. Biol.40, 303–308 (1977)
Koide, M., D. S. Lee and E. D. Goldberg: Metal and transuranic records in mussel shells, byssal threads and tissues. Estuar. cstl Shelf Sci.15, 679–695 (1982)
Kristmannsson, S.: Hitastig, selta og vatns' og seltúbuskapur í Hvalfirdi 1947–1948. Hafranns. fjölr.9, 1–10 (1983). (In Icelandic, mimeo)
Meeus-Verdinne, K., R. Van Cauter and R. De Borger: Trace metal content in Belgian coastal mussels. Mar. Pollut. Bull.14, 198–200 (1983)
Murray, A. J.: Trace metals and organochlorine pesticide and PCB residues in mussels from England and Wales, 1978. Chem. Ecol.1, 33–45 (1982)
Murray, A. J. and R. J. Law: Results of a mussel watch programme in England and Wales 1977 and 1978. Int. Counc. Explor. Sea Comm. Meet. (Mar. environ. Qual. Comm.)1980/E:15, 1–7 (1980)
NAS: The international mussel watch. xvi+248 pp. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences 1980
Olafsson, J.: Determination of nanogram quantities of mercury in sea water. Anal. Chim. Acta68, 207–211 (1974)
Phillips, D. J. H.: The common musselMytilus edulis as an indicator of trace metals in Scandinavian waters. I. Zinc and cadmium. Mar. Biol.43, 283–291 (1977)
Phillips, D. J. H.: The common musselMytilus edulis as an indicator of trace metals in Scandinavian waters. II. Lead, iron and manganese. Mar. Biol.46, 147–156 (1978)
Schaule, B. K. and C. C. Patterson: Perturbances of the natural lead depth profile in the Sargasso Sea by industrial lead.In: Trace metals in sea water, pp 487–503. Ed. by C. S. Wong, E. Boyle, K. W. Bruland, J. D. Burton and E. D. Goldberg. New York: Plenum Press 1983
Schulz-Baldes, M.: Die MiesmuschelMytilus edulis als Indikator für die Bleikonzentration in Weserästuar und in der Deutschen Bucht. Mar. Biol.21, 98–102 (1973)
Stefánsson, U. and G. Gudmundsson: The freshwater regime of Faxaflói, southwest Iceland, and its relationship to meteorological variables. Estuar. cstl mar. Sci.6, 535–551 (1978)
Topping, G.: Report on the 6th ICES trace metal intercomparison exercise for cadmium and lead in biological tissue. Co-op Res. Rep. int. Counc. Explor. Sea (Copenhagen)111, 1–27 (1982)
Topping, G.: The analysis of trace metals in biological reference materials: a discussion of the results of the intercomparison studies conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.In: Trace metals in sea water, pp 155–173. Ed. by C. S. Wong, E. Boyle, K. W. Bruland, J. D. Burton and E. D. Goldberg. New York: Plenum Press 1983
Topping, G. and A. V. Holden: Report on intercalibration analyses in ICES North Sea and North Atlantic baseline studies. Co-op Res. Rep. int. Counc. Explor. Sea (Copenhagen)80, 1–52 (1978)
Wagemann R. and D. C. G. Muir: Assessment of heavy metals and organochlorine concentrations in marine mammals of northern waters. Int. Counc. Explor. Sea Comm. Meet. (Mar. mam. Comm.)1981/N:9, 1–22 (1981)
Watson, W. D.: Economic considerations in controlling mercury pollution.In: The Biogeochemistry of Mercury in the Environment, pp 41–77. Ed. by J. O. Nriagu. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1979
Young, D. R., T. C. Heesen and D. J. McDermott: An offshore biomonitoring system for chlorinated hydrocarbons. Mar. Pollut. Bull.7, 156–159 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ólafsson, J. Trace metals in mussels (Mytilus edulis) from southwest Iceland. Mar. Biol. 90, 223–229 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00569131
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00569131