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Monitoring chemical contaminants in the Gulf of Maine, using sediments and mussels (Mytilus edulis): An evaluation
Citation:
Elskus, A., L. LeBlanc, J. Latimer, D. Page, G. Harding, AND P. Wells. Monitoring chemical contaminants in the Gulf of Maine, using sediments and mussels (Mytilus edulis): An evaluation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 153:110956, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110956
Impact/Purpose:
Marine ecosystem monitoring for toxic contaminants has been done for many years to determine the location and severity of pollution in estuaries. Using results from large scale long-term monitoring programs, this paper will show whether, and for which pollutants, sediment contaminant levels can be used to predict mussel levels, or vice versa. If such predictions are established, then monitoring programs can focus on either sediments or mussels (rather than both) to identify the location and extent of contamination. With this knowledge, time and money can be saved for monitoring and therefore scarce public funds can be better allocated toward protection and restoration of marine resources. Results reveal that sediment levels can be used to predict mussel levels for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; this was less so for polychlorinated biphenyls, and not established at all for metals, except for mercury and zinc.
Description:
The objective of this paper is to determine whether contaminant data on mussels and sediments can be used interchangeably, or not, when assessing the degree of anthropogenic contamination of a water body. To obtain adequate coverage of the entire Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy sediment samples were collected, analyzed and combined with similar data from four coastal monitoring programs. This required careful interpretation but provided robust results consistent with published literature. A strong correspondence was found between sediment and mussel concentrations for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, moderate to weak correspondence for polychlorinated biphenyls, and except for mercury and zinc, little to no correspondence was found for metals. We conclude that mussel contaminant data are likely sufficient for providing information on the spatial and temporal distribution of chemical contaminants, in coastal waters, under a broad range of environmental conditions and contaminant levels, and unlike sediments, provide direct information on contaminant bioavailability.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Monitoring chemical contaminants in the Gulf of Maine, using sediments and mussels (Mytilus edulis): An evaluation