Freshwater Mussel,Lamellidens Marginalis(Lamarck) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae) As an Indicator of River Pollution

Abstract

Analyses were made of heavy metals, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc and lead in water samples and soft body, shell and different tissues (gills, digestive glands, mantle and viscera) of the Unionid mussel, Lamellidens marginalb, collected from two tributaries of the Cauvery river. Water samples from Station I contained higher concentrations of the metals than those from Station 11. The concentration of metals in water at both stations were in the descending order: Mn > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu. However, the concentrations of metals in the soft body were in the descending order: Z n > M n > P b > N i > C u at both stations in all size groups of mussels tested. The concentration of zinc maintained a linear relationship with the size of the mussels, but manganese showed a reverse trend. Small size (4-5 cm) mussels accumulated more manganese (105.5 pg.g-' dry wt.) than larger ones (7-8cm; 6.5 pg.g-' dry wt.). Both young and old r-1;-ts accumulate the same level of lead, copper and nickel in the soft body. The order of concentratiom of metals (Mn, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cu) in the shell of mussels from both stations coincided with the order of concentrations of background water except for lead. The accumulation of lead was higher in shell (30.4-36.2 pg.g-' dry wt.) than in soft body (6.4-12.0 pg.g-' dry wt.). The pattern of concentration of metals in the various tissues reveal that the digestive glands have greater ability than other tissues to concentrate most metals under study. The concentration factors for soft body, shell and different tissues are presented. The advantages in using the common mussel for biomonitoring of contaminants in water is also discussed.

Biomonitoring of Pb and Cd in two impacted watersheds in Southeast Brazil, using the freshwater mussel Anodontites trapesialis (Lamarck, 1819) (Bivalvia : Mycetopodidae) as a biological monitor

“…They readily accumulate many metals and their body burden seems to reflect mean exposure levels over time (Naimo, 1995). Consequently, such organisms have been largely used in programmes of biological monitoring in either salt water (Farrington, 1983;De Gregori et al, 1994;McConnell and Harrel, 1995;Avelar et al, 2000) or in freshwater (Manly and George, 1977;Foster and Bates, 1978;Millington and Walker, 1983; ) Abaychi and Mustafa, 1988;Hameed and Raj, 1990;Kraak et al, 1991;Camusso et al, 1994;Valdovinos et al, 1998;Villar et al, 1999;Rutzke et al, 2000). The species adopted as a biological monitor in this study (A. trapesialis) has been successfully used by different investigators (Avelar et al, 1991;Roma and Longo, 1991;Lopes et al, 1992) in monitoring programmes on some rivers in São Paulo State.…”

The Freshwater MusselParreysia Favidens(Benson) As A Biological Indicator of Polonium - 210 in A Riverine System

“…It is particularly efficient in accumulating transuranic nuclides and other radionuclides present in the estuarine environment (Goldberg et al, 1978). Similarly, freshwater bivalves of the family Unionidae are also viewed as reliable indicators of contamination by heavy metals (Hameed and Mohanraj, 1990), and radionuclides (Merlini, 1967;Ravera and Vido, 1961). Like their counterparts in the marine ecosystem, freshwater mussels are fixed to the site for easy and repeated observation and remain at the sediment-water interface, besides occupying a pivotal position as primary consumers in the food chain.…”

"Estudo comparativo das concentrações de cádmio, chumbo e mercúrio em seis bacias hidrográficas do Estado de São Paulo".

“…Mytilus e Crassostrea em águas marinhas), e também porque as espécies empregadas em estudos de água doce têm uma distribuição local e pouco ou nenhum valor econômico (Phillips & Rainbow, 1994). Apesar disso, muitos autores têm empregado bivalves em estudos sobre contaminação de rios e lagos por metais pesados, entre eles: Manly & George (1977), Foster & Bates (1978), Czarnezki (1987), Abaychi & Mustafa (1988), Hameed & Raj (1990), Kraak et al, (1991), Secor et al (1993), Camusso et al (1994), Bilos et al (1998), Cope et al (1999), Valdovinos et al (1998), Callil & Junk (1999), Villar et al (1999), Rutzke et al (2000), Tomazelli et al (2003).…”