K. Julshamn et al., Cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) sampled inthe Hardangerfjord, Norway, J ENVIR MON, 3(5), 2001, pp. 539-542
Cadmium. lead, copper and zinc were determined in the soft tissues of blue
mussels (Mytilus edulis) sampled from four locations along the Hardangerfjo
rd in western Norway. A source of pollution is located at the head of the f
jord and the sampling was performed at various distances from this source.
The results obtained in this study (1998) were compared with results from s
imilar studies carried out in 1983 and 1992. The mean cadmium concentration
s in blue mussels sampled at Mage (13 km from the source of pollution) were
approximately 18 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in 1983, 2.4 mg kg(-1) fresh weigh
t in 1992 and 1.1 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in 1998. The mean cadmium concentr
ations in blue mussels sampled at Varaldsoy (105 km from the source of poll
ution) were approximately 5 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in 1983, 0.5 mg kg(-1) f
resh weight in. 1992 and 0.4 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in 1998. The mean lead
concentration in blue mussels sampled at Mage was 140 mg kg(-1) fresh weigh
t in 1983. The mean lead concentrations in 1992 and 1998 had decreased to 6
and 3 mg kg(-1) fresh weight, respectively. The mean lead concentrations i
n blue mussels from Gravdal were 15 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in 1982, 1 mg kg
(-1) in 1992 and less than 1 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in 1998. The mean coppe
r concentrations in blue mussels were relatively constant over this period
at all locations, with a variation between 0.6 and 1.2-mg kg(-1) fresh weig
ht. The mean zinc concentration in blue mussels sampled at Mage decreased f
rom 120 to 30 mg kg(-1) fresh weight in the period between 1983 and 1998.