Difference between revisions of "Common starfish can act as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution"

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Sørford, in the Southwest of Norway, is an extremely polluted area, [[cadmium]] (Cd), [[mercury]] (Hg), and lead (Pb) in fish and mussels reach dangerously high levels. This was caused by a zinc (Zn) plant and other smelters which discharged large quantities of cadmium, zinc, mercury and lead into the fjord for more than 65 years. Discharges were drastically reduced since 1986.  
 
Sørford, in the Southwest of Norway, is an extremely polluted area, [[cadmium]] (Cd), [[mercury]] (Hg), and lead (Pb) in fish and mussels reach dangerously high levels. This was caused by a zinc (Zn) plant and other smelters which discharged large quantities of cadmium, zinc, mercury and lead into the fjord for more than 65 years. Discharges were drastically reduced since 1986.  
Due to these and other measures, a gradient was established with high concentrations of [[heavy metals]] at the inner part of the fjord and low concentrations close to opening into the sea. However, non of the organisms in which the concentrations of heavy metals were measured (cod and mussels) displayed this gradient, and therefore can't serve as bioindicators. It's important to have an organism that can serve as a bioindicator to monitor the efficiency of the taken measures.
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Due to these and other measures, a gradient was established with high concentrations of [[heavy metals]] at the inner part of the fjord and low concentrations close to opening into the sea. However, non of the organisms in which the concentrations of heavy metals were measured (cod and mussels) displayed this gradient, and therefore can't serve as bioindicators. It's important to have an organism that can serve as a bioindicator to monitor the efficiency of the taken measures.<ref name = pub>[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=120713 Temara, A.; Skei, J.M.; Gillan, D.; Warnau, M.; Jangoux, M.; Dubois, Ph. (1998). Validation of the asteroid Asterias rubens (Echinodermata) as a bioindicator of spatial and temporal trends of Pb, Cd, and Zn contamination in the field. Mar. Environ. Res. 45(4-5): 341-356]</ref>
  
 
<u>'''Content of the study'''</u>
 
<u>'''Content of the study'''</u>
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<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u>
 
<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u>
  
The concentrations were highest at the inner fjord for all 3 contaminants. This was especially so in the skeletons of the starfish, which give are an indicator for long term pollution (Cd: 15 µg/g, Pb: 150 µg/g, Zn: 325 µg/g; in µg metal/g dried weight). The skeleton concentrations showed a clear decrease from the inner fjord towards the sea for all contaminants. The concentrations in the body wall showed this also, but to a lesser extent, the pyloric cloaca also showed this trend for cadmium and lead but not for zinc. Also, in contrast to zinc and cadmium lead tended to accumulate in the skeleton and body wall with increasing starfish size. This showes that the starfish can excrete zinc and cadmium much easier than lead.  
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The concentrations were highest at the inner fjord for all 3 contaminants. This was especially so in the skeletons of the starfish, which give are an indicator for long term pollution (Cd: 15 µg/g, Pb: 150 µg/g, Zn: 325 µg/g; in µg metal/g dried weight). The skeleton concentrations showed a clear decrease from the inner fjord towards the sea for all contaminants. The concentrations in the body wall showed this also, but to a lesser extent, the pyloric cloaca also showed this trend for cadmium and lead but not for zinc. Also, in contrast to zinc and cadmium lead tended to accumulate in the skeleton and body wall with increasing starfish size. This shows that the starfish can excrete zinc and cadmium much easier than lead.  
  
The study concluded that the common starfish could be used as a bioindicator. The pyloric caeca can be used to investigate short term changes (days) while the skeleton can be used as an indicator for long term changes.
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The study concluded that the common starfish could be used as a bioindicator. The pyloric caeca can be used to investigate short term changes (days) while the skeleton can be used as an indicator for long term changes. It also concludes that the bioavailability of metals has decreased, but still might be high enough to induce sublethal toxic effects in starfish. <ref name = pub>[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=120713 Temara, A.; Skei, J.M.; Gillan, D.; Warnau, M.; Jangoux, M.; Dubois, Ph. (1998). Validation of the asteroid Asterias rubens (Echinodermata) as a bioindicator of spatial and temporal trends of Pb, Cd, and Zn contamination in the field. Mar. Environ. Res. 45(4-5): 341-356]</ref>

Revision as of 11:51, 14 July 2009

Context of the study

Sørford, in the Southwest of Norway, is an extremely polluted area, cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in fish and mussels reach dangerously high levels. This was caused by a zinc (Zn) plant and other smelters which discharged large quantities of cadmium, zinc, mercury and lead into the fjord for more than 65 years. Discharges were drastically reduced since 1986. Due to these and other measures, a gradient was established with high concentrations of heavy metals at the inner part of the fjord and low concentrations close to opening into the sea. However, non of the organisms in which the concentrations of heavy metals were measured (cod and mussels) displayed this gradient, and therefore can't serve as bioindicators. It's important to have an organism that can serve as a bioindicator to monitor the efficiency of the taken measures.[1]

Content of the study

This study investigates whether the common starfish can serve as a bioindicator for the heavy metal contamination. It is assesed whether the body concentrations in the starfish follow changes in the environmental concentrations (in the sediment and or water). The study examined cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations in the starfish. The concentrations of all three heavy metals were measured in three different body parts: the skeleton, the body wall and the pyloric caeca (part between its stomach and gut).

Main results of the study

The concentrations were highest at the inner fjord for all 3 contaminants. This was especially so in the skeletons of the starfish, which give are an indicator for long term pollution (Cd: 15 µg/g, Pb: 150 µg/g, Zn: 325 µg/g; in µg metal/g dried weight). The skeleton concentrations showed a clear decrease from the inner fjord towards the sea for all contaminants. The concentrations in the body wall showed this also, but to a lesser extent, the pyloric cloaca also showed this trend for cadmium and lead but not for zinc. Also, in contrast to zinc and cadmium lead tended to accumulate in the skeleton and body wall with increasing starfish size. This shows that the starfish can excrete zinc and cadmium much easier than lead.

The study concluded that the common starfish could be used as a bioindicator. The pyloric caeca can be used to investigate short term changes (days) while the skeleton can be used as an indicator for long term changes. It also concludes that the bioavailability of metals has decreased, but still might be high enough to induce sublethal toxic effects in starfish. [1]