Trace metal bioaccumulation in epibenthic macroinvertebrates (EMI) from the San Pedro Shelf, California

Trace metal/metalloid (As, Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) bioaccumulat ion was measured over a period of ten years (1985-1995) in five species of epibenthic macroinvertebrates (EMI) from the San Pedro Shelf, California. F our of the species are numerical dominants in the Southern California Eight (SCB) and two species are commercially harvested. Among three echinoderms, a predatory sea star yielded highest tissue concentrations compared to a s ea cucumber and a sea urchin, and concentrations measured in a mantid shrim p exceeded those from a prawn. Comparison of trace metal bioaccumulation fr om the study area, including the ocean outfall, and elsewhere indicated tha t bioaccumulation in local EMI was generally low. Measurements from an outf all station and two reference stations were used to evaluate the spatial an d temporal relationship between trace metal bioaccumulation and the wastewa ter discharge. It was concluded that there was no spatial or temporal relat ionship between EMI trace metal bioaccumulation and the discharge.