Most estuaries receive a high heavy-metal input from industries. This is reflected in the relatively high levels found in numerous estuarine organisms and in sediments. Many indicators have been suggested for facilitating the detection of heavy-metal pollution, but the problems in using these indicators to evaluate the metal loading of estuaries are considerable. Variations in species composition, and conditions at different sites, differences in season of sampling, and age of organism, as well as different metal levels in different parts of the organism, make the interpretation of results difficult. The levels reported here, similar to those in other unpolluted estuaries, have been used to suggest a baseline concentration for heavy metals in estuaries. The concept of a baseline is fundamental to the formation of a “Biological Quality Index” and “Pollution Load Index,” and a formula for such an index is suggested and tested at a preliminary level against published data for an English and a European estuary.

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Problems in the assessment of heavy-metal levels in estuaries and the formation of a pollution index

The use of biological indicator organisms to monitor trace metal pollution in marine and estuarine environments—a review

Studies of tissue metal concentrations in shellfish have progressed along two major lines: first, to record the range of concentrations within commercial species, a response to the need to identify potentially hazardous levels from a human nutritional standpoint; and second, to compare concentrations within a single species on a geographical basis as a framework for an environmental monitoring programme. Body size is a parameter which can influence tissue metal concentrations, and if significant variations due to size do occur, then clearly it is a factor which should be taken into consideration within these contexts.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002531540002511X

Effect of size upon metal content of shellfish

Selection de microorganisme ayant developpe une strategie pour combattre les effets de toxiques mineraux dans le but d'une utilisation dans l'epuration des eaux usees. Mecanismes de lutte de ces microorganismes

K.H. James

Papers

Trace metal concentrations in Fucus from the Bristol channel

Trace metal concentrations in brown seaweeds, Cardigan Bay, Wales