Distribution of heavy metals in the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, in the lower Chesapeake Bay region

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Estuaries; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1352032· OSTI ID:5613381

Larsen, P F

Populations of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, were samples at thirty sites in the lower Chesapeake Bay region in 1972 and 1973. Subsamples were taken for analysis for the trace metals cadmium, copper and zinc. Emphasis was placed on samples from the York and James rivers, two very productive and commercially utilized clam grounds. The levels of metals determined were comparable to those reported from other regions except Southampton Water in the United Kingdom. Differences in levels between the York and James rivers were statistically significant (P < 0.001) which indicates that the James River probably suffers from contamination by these metals. One metal, copper, varied significantly with the age of the organism whereas the other two, cadmium and zinc, varied with salinity. In Mercenaria the salinity of the sampling site must be considered before cadmium and zinc data can be interpreted. A standard action-level to denote pollution from copper would be adequate in this species.

• Research Organization: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, ME
• OSTI ID: 5613381
• Journal Information: Estuaries; (United States), Journal Name: Estuaries; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN ESTUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHESAPEAKE BAY
COPPER COMPOUNDS
DATA
DATA FORMS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
ISOLATED VALUES
JAMES RIVER
MOLLUSCS
NUMERICAL DATA
RIVERS
SALINITY
SEAS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS