Bioavailability of particulate metal to zebra mussels: Biodynamic modelling shows that assimilation efficiencies are site-specific

Abstract

This study investigates the ability of the biodynamic model to predict the trophic bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in a freshwater bivalve. Zebra mussels were transplanted to three sites along the Seine River (France) and collected monthly for 11 months. Measurements of the metal body burdens in mussels were compared with the predictions from the biodynamic model. The exchangeable fraction of metal particles did not account for the bioavailability of particulate metals, since it did not capture the differences between sites. The assimilation efficiency (AE) parameter is necessary to take into account biotic factors influencing particulate metal bioavailability. The biodynamic model, applied with AEs from the literature, overestimated the measured concentrations in zebra mussels, the extent of overestimation being site-specific. Therefore, an original methodology was proposed for in situ AE measurements for each site and metal.

Bioaccumulation of waterborne Ni in Dreissena polymorpha: A stable isotope experiment to assess the effect of zinc, calcium, and dissolved organic matter

“…Mussels from this site are moderately contaminated by metals (data available from Bourgeault et al [25]). Mussels from this site are moderately contaminated by metals (data available from Bourgeault et al [25]).…”

Trace element behavior and partition versus urbanization gradient in an urban river (Orge River, France)

“…Furthermore, these spatial increases for TE in both the dissolved and particulate contribution correlated with urbanization could have possible implications in terms of toxicity for biota (e.g., Bourgeault et al, 2011;Hornberger et al, 2000).…”

Impact of an urban multi-metal contamination gradient: Metal bioaccumulation and tolerance of river biofilms collected in different seasons

“…Site 1 (Marnay-sur-Seine; 48 • 30 53.8 N, 3 • 33 29.6 E) is located in a non-urbanized area, approximately 200 km upstream from Paris (Strahler stream order: 5, median annual flow 50 m 3 /s), and sites 2 (Bougival, Strahler: 7, mean annual flow 184 m 3 /s; 48 • 52 11.2 N, 2 • 07 47.1 E) and 3 (Triel-sur-Seine, Strahler: 8, mean annual flow 340 m 3 /s; 48 • 58 55.5 N, 1 • 59 53.1 E) are both downstream from Paris. Both sites 2 and 3, respectively, located 40 and 80 km downstream from Paris, are known to be subjected to diffuse metal contamination due to atmospheric fallouts, intensive traffic and wastewater discharges related to domestic and industrial activities (Bourgeault et al, 2011;Priadi et al, 2011b). In particular, site 3 is located about 20 km downstream from the effluent of the discharge from the sewer treatment plant Seine-Aval (nominal capacity 8 × 10 6 inhabitants, flow 24 m 3 /s) but also downstream from the confluence with the Oise river (annual flow > 100 m 3 /s at the confluence).…”