Record Details
The comparative metabolism of cadmium, mercury and zinc as environmental contaminants in the freshwater mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | The comparative metabolism of cadmium, mercury and zinc as environmental contaminants in the freshwater mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera |
| Names |
Mellinger, P. J.
(creator) Willis, David L. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1972-05-03 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1972 |
| Abstract | The uptake, tissue distribution and retention patterns of cadmium, mercury and zinc were examined in the freshwater mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera. All three of these heavy metals are found in the environment. Both cadmium and mercury are toxic at low environmental concentrations. Zinc may also be toxic at low concentrations but is also a required microelement in plants and animals. The mussels were maintained in separate solutions containing radioisotopes of these metals at 14.5°C. The uptake was followed for 39 to 80 days of chronic exposure, at which time a near equilibrium was reached in most experiments. At this point all animals were placed in uncontaminated water. Half of them were sampled at intervals to determine changes in tissue distribution. The remainder were regularly counted to determine the pattern of retention. An Armac liquid scintillation whole-body counter was used for all determinations. The tissue distribution. was remarkably constant over separate studies lasting from 67 to 150 days. Multicomponent retention patterns were observed for each metal. The percent of original whole-body activity remaining after 81 days was 87% for methylmercuric chloride, 69% for mercuric nitrate, 76% for cadmium chloride and 57% for zinc chloride. Retention studies were terminated after approximately 81-150 days. The long term retention components for cadmium chloride, methylmercuric chloride, mercuric nitrate and zinc chloride revealed biological half-lives of 835, 860, 194 and 103 days, respectively. The inhibition of zinc uptake in mussels was demonstrated when 2.0 ppm cadmium was added to the experimental solution. This level of cadmium also proved toxic to the mussels with a median survival time of 88 hours. When the cadmium concentration was doubled (4.0 ppm) the median survival time was reduced to 61 hours. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Topic | Margaritifera margaritifera |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/45524 |
