Accumulation and elimination of mixed heavy metals in green mussle Mytilus edulis

The chronic accumulation and elimination of eight heavy metals: lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in green mussel Mytilus edulis were investigated by exposing to the mixed heavy metal solutions. Results showed a positive relationship between exposure time and metal uptake in the accumulation experiment, indicating that M. edulis has a strong capacity of heavy metal accumulation and can be used as an indicator of marine heavy metal pollution, but a negative relationship between exposure time and metal elimination in metal elimination experiment. The elimination curve was to some extent flat, indicating that the elimination of the metals by the animal was slow at least during the experiment.