An assessment of total and leachable contaminants in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from Lake Erie

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/eesa.1993.1030· OSTI ID:5541684

Doherty, F G; Evans, D W; Neuhauser, E F ^[1]

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1. Syracuse Research Corp., NY (United States)

Samples of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, from populations infesting two power generating stations on Lake Erie were subjected to tests assessing the potential for leaching of metals and other (inorganic and organic) contaminants from mussel waste destined for disposal in conventional landfills. These tests revealed that mussels collected from Ontario Hydro's Nanticoke Thermal Generating Station and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation's Dunkirk Steam Station did not release hazardous materials in excess of limits set forth in Canadian and U.S. regulations, respectively. A variety of metals and inorganic materials leached from Nanticoke mussels at levels significantly lower than the registration limits for those analytes. Detectable levels of chloroform (0.080 mg/liter) and barium (3.3 mg/liter) leached from Dunkirk mussels at > 30-fold lower levels than U.S. regulatory action limits for those materials. Whole body analyses revealed a lack of detectable levels of herbicides and pesticides in either population with a variety of metals and inorganic constituents in all samples from both populations. The physiological condition of Dunkirk mussels appeared to be consistent with that of other Lake Erie populations based on percentage water and total fat content of soft tissues.

• OSTI ID: 5541684
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States), Journal Name: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States) Vol. 25:3; ISSN EESADV; ISSN 0147-6513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500 -- Metabolism
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BARIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
CHEMICAL WASTES
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLOROFORM
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
FOULING
GREAT LAKES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HERBICIDES
INVERTEBRATES
LAKE ERIE
LAKES
LEACHING
MATERIALS
METALS
MOLLUSCS
MUSSELS
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
POWER PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACE WATERS
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION