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Correlation of body burden of heavy metals with physiological stress indicators in Mytilus edulis and Mya arenaria exposed to heavy metals in the field
Marine Environmental Research 14 (1984) 505
Correlation of Body Burden of Heavy Metals with Physiological Stress Indicators in Mytilus edulis and Mya arenaria Exposed to Heavy Metals in the Field David S. Page, E. S. Gilfillan, S. A. Hanson, J. R. Hotham & J. C. Foster Bowdoin College Marine Research Laboratory and Hydrocarbon Research Center, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine 04011, USA The Piscataqua River estuary is the location of a major shipyard in Kittery, Maine. In order to evaluate possible metal inputs into this estuary, samples of two bivalve molluscs, M y a arenaria and Mytilus edulis, were taken from a number of sampling locations in the estuary over two growing seasons. The samples were analyzed for Pb, Cr, Cu, Ag, Zn and Cd. At the same time the specific activities of two enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were measured. These enzymes are important in protein and carbohydrate metabolism respectively. The condition index (shell length/meat weight) was also measured for Mytilus edulis at each sampling location/time. Elevated concentrations of Pb, Cr and Cu were found in the tissues of both species of animals at many of the sampling locations. For example, tissue Pb ranged from 11 to 53 ppm (dry weight). Tissue Cr, Cu and Pb concentrations correlated (r 2 = 0"65 or greater) with enzyme activities in each species analyzed and with condition index. These results demonstrate, for a field situation, a significant dose/response relationship between physiologically significant enzyme systems and tissue metal concentrations. These enzyme systems provide a useful sublethal stress indicator in these species that can aid in evaluating the adverse effects of metal inputs into marine systems.
505 Marine Environ. Res. 0141-1136/84/$03.00 © Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1984. Printed in Great Britain.
Correlation of Body Burden of Heavy Metals with Physiological Stress Indicators in Mytilus edulis and Mya arenaria Exposed to Heavy Metals in the Field David S. Page, E. S. Gilfillan, S. A. Hanson, J. R. Hotham & J. C. Foster Bowdoin College Marine Research Laboratory and Hydrocarbon Research Center, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine 04011, USA The Piscataqua River estuary is the location of a major shipyard in Kittery, Maine. In order to evaluate possible metal inputs into this estuary, samples of two bivalve molluscs, M y a arenaria and Mytilus edulis, were taken from a number of sampling locations in the estuary over two growing seasons. The samples were analyzed for Pb, Cr, Cu, Ag, Zn and Cd. At the same time the specific activities of two enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were measured. These enzymes are important in protein and carbohydrate metabolism respectively. The condition index (shell length/meat weight) was also measured for Mytilus edulis at each sampling location/time. Elevated concentrations of Pb, Cr and Cu were found in the tissues of both species of animals at many of the sampling locations. For example, tissue Pb ranged from 11 to 53 ppm (dry weight). Tissue Cr, Cu and Pb concentrations correlated (r 2 = 0"65 or greater) with enzyme activities in each species analyzed and with condition index. These results demonstrate, for a field situation, a significant dose/response relationship between physiologically significant enzyme systems and tissue metal concentrations. These enzyme systems provide a useful sublethal stress indicator in these species that can aid in evaluating the adverse effects of metal inputs into marine systems.
505 Marine Environ. Res. 0141-1136/84/$03.00 © Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1984. Printed in Great Britain.