Seasonal variation in the trace metal content of Mytilus edulis

The possible seasonal variation in the trace metal content of the mollusc Mytilus edulis has been studied by analysing cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel and zinc in 560 individuals collected from the same mussel bed over a period of two years. A clearly discernible effect of size on metal concentration was detected. However, no seasonal trends could be seen in the data.     

Mine-derived metal pollution in the Isle of Man

The sediments of rivers draining areas of past mining activity in the Isle of Man contained greatly enhanced levels of zinc, lead and, to a lesser extent, copper and cadmium. This contamination extended into the estuarine harbours where it was reflected in the metal content of four species of bivalve molluscs. Of the latter, Mytilus edulis was the most useful indicator species in that it occurred in all five estuarine harbours but Scrobicularia plana, although of more limited distribution, concentrated much higher levels of zinc and lead. Individual variation of metal levels was high in all species of bivalves examined; a negative correlation of dry weight: metal content was demonstrated in many cases, but other factors may also contribute to such variation.     

Experimental studies on the accumulation of copper and zinc in the green mussel

Toxicity of copper and zinc to the green mussel, Mytilus viridis was evaluated by short-term bioassays. Probit analysis was used for calculating 48 h median tolerance limits, 95% fiducial limits and slope functions (S). The rates of copper and zinc accumulation were determined by analysing the metal content in the soft parts of the mussels at fixed intervals of time by atomic absorption spectrometry. Bioaccumulation was determined as a function of metal concentration in the experimental medium. The correlations for the regression lines (P < 0.1%) indicate that the uptake of metal is linear at least for the first five weeks. During a more extended experimental period, adjustment to a steady state probably occurs.     

Age-related change and distribution of cadmium and zinc concentrations in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubata) from the coast of Hokkaido,Japan

Tissue cadmium and zinc levels in Steller sea lions have been analysed to elucidate the body distribution of these metals and their age-related accumulation. A significant correlation between age (0.7–8.8 year old) and renal and hepatic cadmium concentration was noted. Of the tissues examined, the kidney manifested the highest cadmium content (mean: 20.9 μg g^?1 dry wt). A similar zinc distribution pattern was observed; its concentration was more uniform among tissues than that of cadmium. The tissue cadmium concentration in the Steller sea lion was lower than in other pinnipeds from various areas, possibly due to their feeding habits which may represent a major pathway of metal accumulation.     

Tunicate species as marine pollution indicators

Tunicates may serve as marine pollution indicators for monitoring the release of industrial and/or radioactive wastes into the marine environment. Their ability to accumulate certain trace elements from the seawater can be employed in order to define a suitable organism as indicator for some specific pollutants. In this work the concentration of the elements cobalt, zinc, chromium, caesium, silver, iron, rubidium, selenium, scandium and antimony has been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis and γ-ray spectroscopy, in two tunicates, Microcosmus sulcatus (Pyuridae) and Ciona intestinalis (Cionidae).According to the concentration factors found for these species Ciona intestinalis can be used as indicator for iron, while Microcosmus sulcatus as indicator for the elements selenium, chromium, zinc and cobalt.     

Trace metals in fucoid algae and purple sea urchins near a high Arctic lead/zinc ore deposit

Seaweed and urchins accumulate Fe and Zn to higher concentrations near a lead/zinc ore body than further away. The concentration of three metals (Cu, Fe and Zn) in seaweed increase with age of tissue. As and Cd are lowest in tissue of intermediate age, suggesting a reversible bonding mechanism for the two elements.Concentrations of Fe in whole urchins, and Zn in the gonads, are higher than concentrations in Fucus tips, which represent a lower level in the food web. Fe is higher in whole sea urchins than in their gonads. For As and Zn the relationship is reversed.     

Trace element content in fish otoliths in relation to age and size

Fish otoliths could serve as storage sites of certain elements of biological and/or radioecological importance.The elements caesium, cobalt, iron, selenium and silver have been determined in otoliths of the pelagic fish Scomber japonicus colias collected from three sampling areas of the Aegean Sea, by neutron activation analysis and γ-spectroscopy.The distribution pattern of the elemental composition of the otoliths has been correlated with biometrical variables. It has been found that in general the content of the studied elements decreases with increasing age.     

Old cannery wastes,a potential source of trace metals in the marine environment

High levels of lead and zinc have been measured in the California Mussel Mytilus californianus taken from southern Monterey Bay as part of the California State Mussel Watch programme. The levels of lead and zinc increase steadily from Cypress Point towards Cannery Row. The California State Water Resources Control Board (which funded but did not conduct the State Mussel Watch) has attributed the high levels to heavy metals contributed by sewage. The state mussel watch data reports have not considered the historic canning wastes from more than 30 canneries along Cannery Row as a possible source of trace metals. Leachates from old cannery wastes may be a major source of lead and zinc in mussels in southern Monterey Bay and must be considered in assessing any data from the State Mussel Watch programme.     

Crustacean assemblages in a polluted estuary from South-Western Spain

The spatial-temporal variation in crustacean assemblages of the Odiel-Tinto estuary, one of the most polluted areas in the world, was studied in 2000, 2002 and 2004. The crustacean assemblages were mainly established according to the natural gradient from estuarine to marine environment (based on water and sediment characteristics such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, granulometry or organic content). Pollutants such as copper, zinc or phosphates could also explain partially this pattern based on BIOENV and canonical correspondence analyses. However, there were clear symptoms of perturbation, mainly in the inner areas, such as a low number of species and a low abundance, especially in relation to the typical estuarine species (e.g. Cyathura carinata, Corophium spp.). This study provides baseline information which can be used as a reference point in a long-term perspective.     

Metal accumulation in four molluscs

Specimens of mussels (Mytilus edulis), winkles (Littorina littorea), dogwhelks (Nucella lapillus) and limpets (Patella vulgata) were collected from the north-east coast of England in 1980–1981 in order to analyse the dried whole soft tissue for zinc, copper and iron. In each case, only a narrow size range of organisms was collected from a small environmentally homogeneous site and sex was taken into account. Most of the frequency distributions of metal concentrations obtained were found to show significant positive skewness. This skewness could not be explained either by the degree of mobility or type of feeding mechanism of the organisms or by any other known parameter, e.g. size, sex, habitat variation. Some individual mussels were found to be extremely good regulators of their zinc concentrations. On the other hand, other individual mussels had the ability to accumulate unusually high levels of zinc.     

Gamma ray spectra of some lavas from Vesuvius

The authors have carried out the gamma-ray spectrometry of some Vesuvius lavas, by means of a S.E.L.O. equipment which consists of a 100 channels analyzer joined to a photomultiplier tube annexed to aNaI(T1) phosphor. TheU ²³⁸,Th ²³²,Ra ²²⁶ andK ₂ O contents have been determined and the following conclusions have been drawn: theU ²³⁸ seems to be present in the examined lavas and the contents are fairly equal within the errors; also theTh ²³² andK ₂ O contents show no sensible variations in the different lavas. TheRa ²²⁶ content is remarkably higher than that necessary for the equilibrium with the observedU ²³⁸ content and shows a decrease with the age of the lavas. TheRa ²²⁶ content which exceeds that necessary for the equilibrium with the observedU ²³⁸ content decreases with a law similar to the natural radioactive decay ofRa ²²⁶.     

Zink in der Umwelt

Zinc in the Environment. In 1990 the world production of zinc ammounted to 7 Mio. metric tons. The main areas of application were: galvanization, alloys like brass and zinc metal. The content in the earth crust varies between 10–300 ppm zinc with a mean of 70 ppm. Uncontaminated surface waters contain less than 10 mg/m³ zinc. Apart from civilization air contains 1–10 ng zinc per m³. These background concentrations are exceeded by orders of magnitude in zinc deposit areas and where anthropogenic influences predominate. Accumulation can occur in sediments and sewage sludge. Molluscs and Algae also accumulate zinc. Zinc is essential for live. With normal food the zinc supply of man is just sufficient. Bioaccumulation of zinc towards man or chronic oversupply of man is not known. Zinc has no teratogenic or mutagenic effects, a suspicion on a carcinogenic effect proved wrong. In stockbreeding and plant cultivation a minimum supply of zinc is necessary. Plants are relatively less sensitive against higher soil contents of zinc. Considering the toxicological and ecotoxicological effects of zinc in the environment, the critical organismens are marine invertebratae like tubifex, daphnia, gammarus and algae. But normally only a minor part of the total zinc contest is biologically available, depending on salt content and pH of the waters.     

Measurements of 36Cl in Antarctic meteorites and Antarctic ice using a Van de Graaff accelerator

Cosmic-ray produced ³⁶Cl(t_1/2 = 3.0 × 10⁵ years) has been measured in four Antarctic meteorites and one sample of Antarctic ice using a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator as an ultrasensitive mass spectrometer with the extremely low background level of ³⁶Cl/Cl< 2 × 10^?16. Results from this ion counting technique (applied here to extraterrestrial materals for the first time) are used to support a two-stage irradiation model for the Yamato-7301 and Allan Hills-76008 meteorites and to show a long terrestrial age (0.7 ± 0.1 m.y.) for Allan Hills-77002. Yamato-7304 has a terrestrial age of less than 0.1 m.y. The ³⁶Cl content of the Antarctic ice sample from the Yamato Mountain area implies that the age of the ice cap at this site is less than one ³⁶Cl half-life.     

Trace elements in Acartia clausi from Elefsis bay of the Upper Saronikos Gulf,Greece

Twelve trace elements (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, managenese, mercury, scandium, selenium and zinc) were determined by neutron activation analysis in a planktonic copepod (Acartia clausi) from Elefsis Bay of the Upper Saronikos Gulf, Greece. During the first cruise (January 1974) higher levels of most of these trace elements were found in this copepod collected from a polluted area of the bay. This trend however was not observed during the second cruise (February 1974) possibly due to the termination of the active vertical convection. Lower levels of cobalt, similar levels of iron and slightly increased levels of chromium were found in Elefsis Bay Acartia clausi from those reportedin Acartia clausi from the Bay of Roquebrune. Slightly increased concentrations of antimony and zinc as well as lower concentrations of arsenic and cadmium were found in Acartia clausi than those reported in other Copepoda. No significant differences were found for copper, manganese and mercury. More data are needed to confirm if higher levels of antimony, chromium and zinc found in Acartia clausi are due to the pollution of the bay.     

Gonadal and nongonadal zinc concentrations in mussels

Seasonal measurement of zinc levels in mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Tyne estuary showed a small spring peak and an annual low in September. Zinc concentration was found to be significantly lower in gonadal tissue than in nongonadal tissue. Although gonadal dry weight was strongly negatively correlated with gonadal zinc concentration there was no significant relationship between gonadal dry weight and whole body zinc levels, indicating that gonadal state has little effect on zinc variability in these animals. However, a strong negative correlation was found between log gonadal zinc concentration and log nongonadal dry weight. Construction of a gonadal index (gonadal/nongonadal dry weight) shows that the seasonal peak zinc concentration in early May occurs before major spawning has taken place. It is concluded that the seasonal dynamics of zinc in this species can be explained in terms of growth of somatic rather than germinal tissue.     

Cadmium,zinc, copper,and barium in foraminifera tests

The concentrations of cadmium, zinc, copper and barium have been determined on 2-mg samples of single-species foraminifera populations. Cleaning techniques were tested using North Atlantic core tops, and followed by a detailed downcore study for the last 30,000 years in South Atlantic core V22-174. Raw foram tests cleaned by crushing followed by ultrasonic removal of fine-grained material, and dissolved in a pH 5.5 acetate buffer, contain appreciable amounts of trace elements associated with ferromanganese and alumino-silicate contaminants. A reductive/complexing cleaning treatment reduces ferromanganese contamination by 1–2 orders of magnitude. Acetate buffers at pH 5.5 complex iron and raise the solubility of ferromanganese oxides; these buffers are unsuitable for separating carbonate lattice-bound trace elements from the fraction associated with ferromanganese phases. Improved mechanical and ultrasonic reductive cleaning combined with a mild dissolution in distilled water under 1 atm.P_CO2 reduces contaminant levels another order of magnitude. The Cd and Zn concentrations (order 10^?8 mole Cd/mole Ca and 10^?5 mole Zn/mole Ca) of species with low surface area show an increase with decreasing isotopic temperatures. This increase is consistent with the increasing concentrations of these metals from low values in surface waters to higher values at depth. The variance of Cd and Zn over the last 30,000 years in the central South Atlantic is consistent with the probable variability of the dissolved trace elements at the calcification levels of the species analyzed. Cu and Ba are irreproducible and probably sensitive to residual contaminant phases. The trace element content of the tests differs from levels observed in a recent coprecipitation study. Foraminifera may be a significant vector in zinc cycling in the ocean.     

Indication of a geomagnetic low-inclination excursion in supposed Middle Weichselian interstadial marine clay at Rubjerg,Denmark

Palaeomagnetic measurements have been made on specimens from Late Pleistocene sediments of a piston boring at Rubjerg in Vendsyssel, northern Jutland. The stratigraphy of the deposits is based on content of foraminifera. A total of 70 relatively oriented specimens were investigated palaeomagnetically. Normal steep inclinations close to that of the axial dipole field were found in the Upper Saxicava Sand and in the Younger Yoldia Clay (radiocarbon dated at 14,650 ± 190?12,650 ± 180 B.P.), and a secular variation with an amplitude of 10–12° in the inclincation and a “period” roughly estimated at about 350–400 years was found in the Younger Yoldia Clay.Seventeen relatively oriented specimens from undisturbed older marine deposits revealed a stable low inclination of 11° with α₉₅ = 3°. The age of this apparent geomagnetic excursion falls somewhere between 23,000 and 40,000 B.P. (Older Yoldia Clay). Among other known geomagnetic excursions and events within this interval are Laschamp in France, Mono Lake in California and Lake Mungo in Australia. Until more definite ages have been obtained, the excursion is provisionally named the “Rubjerg Excursion”.     

Trace metals in corals from the Great Barrier Reef

Various octocorallian and scleractinian corals from within the Great Barrier Reef Province were analysed for zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel and lead by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Of the two coral groups, the octocorals accumulated significantly greater amounts of all detectable metals. The soft coral, Sarcophyton sp., revealed distinct inter-locational differences for zinc, copper and cadmium. The potential of this genus for monitoring trace metal pollution in tropical reef waters is briefly discussed.     

Temporal trends in dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in Baltic herring (Clupea harengus)

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (dl-PCBs) concentrations in Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) have been relatively stable since the mid to late 1990s. It is unclear why concentrations in Baltic herring are not following the observed decreases in other environmental matrices. Here, changes in long-term temporal trends in Baltic herring were examined. A number of biological variables were examined alongside the temporal trends to investigate whether fish biology e.g., growth (length, weight, age), lipid content, reproductive phase or fishing date may provide an explanation for the temporal trends observed.     

The harpacticoid assemblages (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) in the Western Carpathian spring fens in relation to environmental variables and habitat age

Harpacticoids are an important component of meiofaunal assemblages in springs. No information so far has been available on harpacticoid assemblages of the Western Carpathian spring fens, unique biotopes of high conservation value which cover a very long gradient of mineral content of groundwater, due to the variable geological background setting. Spring fens are isolated habitats of different age which can be assessed by radiocarbon dating of their basal sediment layers. This enables to test a possible effect of habitat age on species composition and species richness. In this study, we examined harpacticoid assemblages in 50 permanent tree-less spring fens (helocrenes) in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia and Czech Republic) in terms of species composition, total abundance, species density, and species richness. We tested mainly the effect of 12 explanatory variables describing water chemistry and temperature, climatic conditions, amount of nutrients, organic carbon, sediment structure, habitat age and size, using Canonical Correspondence Analyses (CCA) with stepwise forward selection. For the computation of species richness rarefaction was used. In total, 20 harpacticoid species were recorded with the total median density of 950 individuals in m⁻². Three significant explanatory variables, Ellenberg Indicator Values of plant community for nutrients, in situ measured pH, and average January temperature, explained together 19.0% (adj. 13.7%) of the total variance in the species composition data. The relationships of harpacticoids to these three explanatory variables were species specific and no uniform response of the total assemblage to the environmental variables was found (in terms of total abundance and number of species). The only exception was the influence of overall unfavourable conditions in the mineral-poor acidic Sphagnum-fens. Pilocamptus pilosus was significantly associated with a higher amount of nutrients and warmer climate. Nutrient enrichment was clearly indicated by a decrease or absence of crenophile Bryocamptus cuspidatus, and accompanied by an increase in ubiquitous Attheyella crassa. Moraria brevipes was confined to low pH, B. cuspidatus showed a high tolerance for low pH, whereas Bryocamptus echinatus preferred alkaline conditions. Despite a significant correlation between habitat age and species density we found no clear evidence that any colonisation driven process could influence the number of harpacticoid species within the tested time scale. We hypothesize that rather other habitat characteristics connected with age, i.e. habitat heterogeneity and stability, may be determinant for species richness. The occurrence of some species (e.g. P. pilosus, B. cuspidatus) was clearly geographically limited, but due to the spatial structuring of significant environmental variables no conclusion on dispersal limitations could be made.