Trace metals in fish and invertebrates of three California coastal wetlands

Metal concentrations were measured in selected fish and invertebrate specie s from Mugu Lagoon, Malibu Lagoon and Ballona Wetlands in southern Californ ia in order to assess the extent of metal contamination in these three wetl ands. Ranges of element concentrations (in mug/g) found in biota were: Zn 1 2-650; Cu 1.9-440; Ni < 1-37; Cr < 1-55; Pb < 0.5-6.8; As < 1-8.5; Se < 1-3 .8; Cd < 0.2-0.90; and Ag < 0.3-5.9, Relative to previous studies of Califo rnia biota, the highest metal concentrations found were for chromium and ni ckel, The highest levels were in one of the two bottom-dwelling fish (juven ile Leptocottus armatus) (55 <mu>g/g) and the two water-column fish sampled (Fundulus parvipinnis and Atherinops affinis) (30 and 24 mug/g). At Ballon a Lagoon, elevated levels of copper and silver were found in the bivalve Ta gelus californianus (440 and 5.9 mug/g). Chromium and nickel appeared to be most persistent in fish from Mugu (4.6-55 and 2.6-37 mug/g), the most nort hern site and an active military base, and Ballona (<1-30 and <1-16 mug/g), believed to be the most metal-contaminated site. Compared to previously me asured metal concentrations in species of California coastal waters, these regions revealed higher levels of chromium, nickel, silver, arsenic, zinc, copper and, to a lesser extent, cadmium and selenium, Chromium and silver w ere present at high enough levels at all three sites to be considered envir onmental health hazards. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .