MA5 Novel Methods for Bioaccumulation Assessment
203 Oregon Ballroom
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday
() Investigating the bioavailability of metals in the marine environment using passive samplers as bivalve biomimics.
Galvin, J1, Griscom, S1, Lewis, C1, Shine, J1, 1 Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
ABSTRACT- Bivalves have long been regarded as sound biomonitors of environmental change in coastal marine ecosystems, and have been incorporated into large formal monitoring programs such as the Mussel Watch of the National Status and Trends program. A new metal speciation tool, the 'Gellyfish', has been shown to calibrate with free metal ions in solution. Because metal bioavailability is a function of metal speciation and free metal ion activity, an extension of this research was the alternate use of the 'Gellyfish' as an empirical exposure assessment tool to mimic biological uptake of metals by marine organisms. Several field deployment campaigns have been conducted to evaluate the utility of these samplers as biomimics of bivalve metal exposure. Studies were conducted in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and Cape Cod Bay by deploying 'Gellyfish' alongside mussels (Mytilus edulis) and oysters (Cassostrea virginica); a parallel pilot study was also conducted in Bermuda using scallops (Argopecten gibbus). Bivalve tissue and 'Gellyfish' were analyzed for a suite of metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr, Ni). Comparisons have been made between the metal levels of the organisms and sampling devices. There is evidence of a regression relationship between the bio-relevant fraction of metals in the deployed devices and organisms. 'Gellyfish' are promising new devices that are simple to produce, store, and use, and will afford faster and easier metal assessment than biomonitoring, such as by reducing the need to rely on live organisms, faced with issues of mortality and reproductive events. There is a need for simple, cost-effective, in-situ tools for contaminants in marine ecosystems that underscore the issues of bioavailability.
Key words: passive sampling devices, biomonitoring, metals