Preliminary assessment of heavy metal levels in Mytella falcata (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) from Bacanga River estuary, São Luis, State of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: CARVALHO,G. P. de
• Data de Publicação: 2000
• Outros Autores: CAVALCANTE,P. R. S., CASTRO,A. C. L. de, ROJAS,M. O. A. I.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Biologia (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-71082000000100003
• topic: heavy metals; bivalves; Mytella falcata; estuary; pollution

The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd were determined in the mussel Mytella falcata from the Bacanga River estuary, in order to evaluate the potential role of domestic effluents released "in natura" on the quality of the estuarine environment with consequences to shellfish resources. Cu concentrations ranged from 5.2 mg.g-1 to 13.1 mg.g-1, while Zn concentrations ranged from 49.1 mg.g-1 to 76.3 mg.g-1. Pb and Cd showed concentrations lower than 2 mg.g-1. The results showed low concentrations of Cu, Pb and Cd in the filter-feeding Mytella falcata in the study area in comparison with the maximum values stablished to foods by the Brazilian Government (Decree Law Nº 55,871). Finally, Zn presented slightly higher values than the maximum ones stablished by the Brazilian government.