Heavy metal contamination along the China coastline: A comprehensive study using Artificial Mussels and native mussels

Natalie DEGGER, Jill Man Ying CHIU, Beverly H. K. PO, Anna C. K. TSE, Gene Jin-Shu ZHENG, Dong-Mei ZHAO, Di XU, Yu-Shan CHENG, Xin-Hong WANG, Wen-Hua LIU, Tai Chu LAU, Shiu Sun Rudolf WU

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A comprehensive study was carried out to assess metal contamination in five cities spanning from temperate to tropical environment along the coastal line of China with different hydrographical conditions. At each of the five cities, Artificial Mussels (AM) were deployed together with a native species of mussel at a control site and a polluted site. High levels of Cr, Cu and Hg were found in Qingdao, high level of Cd, Hg and Pb was found in Shanghai, and high level of Zn was found in Dalian. Furthermore, level of Cu contamination in all the five cities was consistently much higher than those reported in similar studies in other countries (e.g., Australia, Portugal, Scotland, Iceland, Korea, South Africa and Bangladesh). Levels of individual metal species in the AM showed a highly significant correlation with that in the native mussels (except for Zn in Mytilus edulis and Cd in Perna viridis), while no significant difference can be found between the regression relationships of metal in the AM and each of the two native mussel species. The results demonstrated that AM can provide a reliable time-integrated estimate of metal concentration in contrasting environments over large biogeographic areas and different hydrographic conditions, and overcome the shortcomings of monitoring metals in water, sediment and the use of biomonitors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)238-246
JournalJournal of Environmental Management
Volume180
Early online dateJun 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2016

Citation

Degger, N., Chiu, J. M. Y., Po, B. H. K., Tse, A. C. K., Zheng, G. J., Zhao, D.-M., et al. (2016). Heavy metal contamination along the China coastline: A comprehensive study using Artificial Mussels and native mussels. Journal of Environmental Management, 180, 238-246.

Keywords

  • Heavy metal
  • China coastline
  • Live mussels
  • Aquatic system health
  • Artificial mussels

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