RESPONSE OF THE BLUE MUSSEL MYTILUS-EDULIS-L FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO PAHS OR CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene s ignificantly reduced the feeding rate of mussels. For both compounds t he tissue concentration resulting in a 50% reduction of the clearance rate (TEC(50)) was calculated. At high tissue concentrations both arom atic compounds reduced the tolerance of mussels to aerial exposure, wh ereas at low tissue concentrations an improved response was noticed. T he activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) an d catalase were elevated only at low tissue concentrations of fluorant hene and benzo(a)-pyrene. At the highest measured tissue concentration s the activity of both enzymes was reduced, possibly due to a narcotic effect. The reproductive success rate of mussels appeared to be affec ted negatively by the investigated hydrocarbons. The results of a pilo t experiment indicate that mussels can be used also for the testing of contaminated sediments.