A QUALITATIVE P-31 NMR INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO LEAD, CADMIUM, OR MERCURY ON THE ENERGETIC STATUS OF THE PULMONATE GASTROPOD, BIOMPHALARIA-GLABRATA (SAY)

The present study employed in vivo P-31 NMR spectroscopy to examine th e effects of dissolved lead, cadmium, or mercury chlorides on the leve ls of phosphorus metabolites in Biomphalaria glabrata, a potential bio indicator of heavy metal pollution in fresh water. Snails surviving ch ronic exposure for 4 or 8 wk to metals at approximately their LC50 dis played normal P-31 NMR spectra with little effect on the relative leve ls of NMR observable phosphorus metabolites. Acute exposure to these m etals at levels several-fold greater than their LC50 for 42 hr prior t o analysis also failed to affect the P-31 NMR spectrum, indicating tha t snails surviving heavy metal exposure remain viable and are very tol erant to metal poisoning. Acute exposure of previously unexposed snail s to mercury at 5, 10, and 15 mu-M resulted in significant and progres sive changes in the relative levels of phosphorus metabolites in the N MR spectrum. After 6 hr of exposure to 15 mu M mercury, the relative l evels of ATP and the energy index [(ATP)(phosphoarginine)/Pi] approach ed 50% of their initial values.