The use of polymer-ligands vs bioindicators in heavy metal monitoring
- City Univ. of Hong Kong, Kowloon (Hong Kong). Dept. of Biology and Chemistry
Major problems involved in using bio-indicators to monitor heavy metals in the marine environment include standardizing a great variety of physical and biological factors which have a significant effect on metal accumulation. The fact that different species may have different accumulation strategies for different metals; and also limits of natural distribution of indicator species often prevent comparison between monitoring results in different geographic areas and hydrographic conditions. Environmental effects on the uptake and deputation of the metals in the biological indicators are generally poorly understood. In the present study, uptake of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn by four polymer-ligands (i.e. Chelex 100, poly(4-vinylpyridine), Sephadex Sp C-J5 and Amberlite IR-122) were studied. Laboratory results showed that Chelex 100 was most effective in taking up the soluble fractions of these three metals at low ambient concentrations (0.1 to 10 mg/L). Equilibrium at low concentrations was reached at about 21 days. Concentration factors after 21 days` exposure ranged from 2,500 to 5,500, depending upon the metal species and ambient concentration. Both uptake and release of metals by Chelex are directly responsive to ambient concentrations and exposure time. Results of field transplantation of Chelex and mussels (P. virvidis) also showed that Chelex accumulated significantly higher levels of Cd, Cr and Pb; similar levels of Cu, and a lower level of Zn than those of mussels under natural field conditions. Coefficients of variations of metal uptake of Chelex were also much smaller. The suitability of using Chelex 100 as a novel chemical device for monitoring metal pollution in the aquatic environment is evaluated against selection criteria established for metal bioindicators.
- OSTI ID:
- 225219
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9621%%149
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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