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The Occurrence of Some Trace Metals in Coastal Organisms With Particular Reference to the Solent Region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

T. M. Leatherland
Affiliation:
Department of Oceanography, The University Southampton, England
J. D. Burton
Affiliation:
Department of Oceanography, The University Southampton, England

Extract

Measurements have been made, by neutron activation analysis, of arsenic, cadmium, antimony, mercury and zinc in organisms and bottom muds, mainly from Southampton Water and the Solent. The values are on a dry weight basis and refer to whole organism soft tissues unless otherwise stated.

Concentrations of mercury in algae ranged from 0·07 to 0·22 ppm and those in animal tissues from 0·06 to 1·9 ppm. The distribution of the element in various tissues of Mercenaria mercenaria was rather uniform, except that the concentration in the gills was about 2·5 times that in the whole organism. Variations amongst organisms from different parts of the Solent area and comparisons with other regions suggested some possible influences of local waste discharge, but there was no evidence of major effects. Anoxic muds contained higher concentrations of mercury than occurred in unreduced surface layers, suggesting mobility in interstitial waters of the uppermost zone and fixation under reducing conditions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1974

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