Hendriks, A.J., H. Pieters, and J. DeBoer, 1998. Accumulation of Metals, Polycyclic (Halogenated) Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Biocides in Zebra Mussel and Eel from the Rhine and Meuse Rivers. Institute of Inland Water

Reprinted from Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (1998) 17: 1885-1898

Abstract
Concentrations of heavy metals and various groups of organic microcontaminants were measured in zebramussel and eel from the Rhine-Meuse basin. Residues in mussel from the Rhine and Meuse were on average 2.3 and 2.9 times higher than in those from the reference location of IJsselmeer. Total body burdens of organic microcontaminants in mussel and eel varied between 0.05 to 0.07 mmol*kg-' fat weight in 6 out of 7 samples. The largest contribution in mussels and eel came from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and chlorobiphenyls (PCBs) respectively. Concentrations of bromodiphenylethers, chlorobenzenes, chloronitrobenzenes, chloroterphenyls and chlorobenzyltoluenes were lower. Total PBB residues appear lower than total PCB-levels. The largest chlorobiocide residues were noted for 4,4'-DDE, toxaphene, trichlorophenylmethane and y-HCH. An extraordinary high body burden of 1.2mmol*kg-' fat weight, largely consisting of acenaphthene was observed in one sample.

Ratios of concentrations in organism fat and dry organic suspended solids varied between l-10 for traditionally monitored organochlorines, independent of k_ow(for k_ow <10⁶). The values did not deviate significantly from the value of about 3.3, expected for equilibrium partitioning of persistent chemicals. Lower values were observed for PAHs and some chloro(nitro)benzenes. Most ratios of concentrations in eel and mussel fat were within the range of 1 to 10, also largely independent of  k_ow. Yet, values tended to be higher at  k_ow >10 ⁶ . Ratios below 1 were noted for pentabromodiphenylether, pentachloro(thio)anisol, chlorobenzyltoluenes and some chloronitrobenzenes, chlorobiphenyls and chlorobiocides. These field data confirm recent modelling efforts on bioconcentration and biomagnification.
For heavy metals, atomic mass explained 67% of the variation in zebramussel residues.

Contact: A. Jan Hendriks, Dept. of Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute for Inland Water and Waste Water Treatment, 8200 AA, Lelystad, Holland
Keywords: Bio-accumulation, Zebra_mussel, Inland_lakes/rivers
Product Type: Research, Basic_biology
User Type: Resource_management