Trace Metal Residues in Marine Mussels: A Global Survey

Pressures from anthropogenic activities are causing degradation of estuarine and coastal ecosystems around the world. Trace metals are key pollutants that are released and can accumulate in a range of environmental compartments and are ultimately accumulated in exposed biota. The level of pressure varies with locations and the range and intensity of anthropogenic activities. This study measured residues of trace metals in Mytilus mussel species collected from a range of locations around the world in areas experiencing a gradient of anthropogenic pressures, that we classified as low, moderate or high impact. The data showed no grouping per impact level when sampling sites in all countries were incorporated in the analysis, but there was significant clustering per impact level for most countries. Overall, high impact areas were characterized by elevated concentrations of zinc, lead, nickel and arsenic, while copper and silver were detected in higher concentrations in medium impact areas. Finally, while most metals were in lower concentrations in areas classified as low impact, cadmium was typically elevated in these areas. This study provides a unique snapshot of worldwide levels of coastal metal contamination through the use of Mytilus species, a well-established marine biomonitoring tool. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.