Monitoring of organic compounds and trace metals during a dredging episode in the Gota Alv Estuary (SW Sweden) using caged mussels

• The concentrations of selected trace metals, organotins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in caged blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) during dredging operations in the Gota Alv Estuary (SW Sweden). Maximum values of pollutants in mussel tissues were found after the dredging started. Our results showed that the dredging caused mobilization of organotins from the sediments to the water column during the experimental period. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) and cluster analysis were applied to compare and establish relationships between levels of pollutants in mussels and sampling sites during the experimental period. In order to evaluate the biological effects of contaminants, genotoxic damage was measured using the Comet assay, and its potential application for environmental monitoring is discussed.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

mytilus edulis

dredging operations

bioaccumulation

metals

organic pollutants

monitoring

mytilus-edulis l.

polycyclic aromatic-hydrocarbons

polluted anoxic sediments

DNA strand breaks

comet assay

tissue concentrations

aquatic environment

organotin compounds

contaminant levels

marine pollution

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)