Naimo, T. J., Waller, D. L., and Holland-Bartels, L. E., 1992, Heavy metals in the
threeridge mussel Amblema plicata plicata (Say, 1817) in the upper Mississippi River:
Journal of Freshwater Ecology, v. 7, no. 2, p. 209-217.

Abstract

Concentrations of mercury and zinc in the threeridge mussel Amblema plicata plicata,
sampled in 1987  from Pools 3 and 10 in the upper Mississippi River, were comparable
to concentrations in mussels from  moderately contaminated systems, while copper
concentrations were similar to concentrations in mussels from  more polluted waters.
Cadmium concentrations in mussels were significantly less at a lightly contaminated
site  (Pool 10, range 0.53 to 0.92  mu g/g dry weight) than at a site where metal
abundances were strongly influenced  by industrial and domestic inputs (Pool 3, range
0.80 to 1.25  mu g/g dry weight). Yet, cadmium concentrations  in Pool 3 were an
order of magnitude less than values reported for mussels from more metal-polluted
systems. In  contrast, concentrations of copper, mercury, and zinc did not differ
between sites. Cadmium and zinc  concentrations generally increased with size of the
mussel, copper concentrations decreased with size, and  mercury concentrations were
unrelated to size.a

Keywords

bioaccumulation, cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc, heavy-metals, water-pollution,
rivers, freshwater- mollusks, Amblema-plicata-plicata, USA,-Mississippi-R.