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Metal interaction during accumulation by the mussel Mytilus edulis planulatus

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Abstract

Mytilus edulis planulatus (Lamarck) were collected from Howden, South-east Tasmania in autumn 1981. Interaction effects of cadmium, copper and zinc during accumulation by mussels exposed for ten days to all three metals simultaneously were examined in a series of experiments in which each metal was tested at three concentrations. In general, interaction effects were most evident at the highest concentrations tested (20 μg l-1 Cd; 20 μg l-1 Cu; 200 μg l-1 Zn) and led to a reduction in the accumulation of cadmium and an increase in that of copper and zinc. More specifically, high levels of zinc caused a decrease in cadmium uptake and an increase in copper accumulation. The presence of copper resulted in depressed cadmium accumulation while zinc accumulation increased. Cadmium tended to enhance zinc accumulation, but copper accumulation was only affected to any great extent when zinc was also present.

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Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney

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Elliott, N.G., Swain, R. & Ritz, D.A. Metal interaction during accumulation by the mussel Mytilus edulis planulatus . Marine Biology 93, 395–399 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401107

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401107

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