The Occurrence of Some Trace Metals in Coastal Organisms With Particular Reference to the Solent Region

Abstract

Measurements have been made, by neutron activation analysis, of arsenic, cadmium, antimony, mercury and zinc in organisms and bottom muds, mainly from Southampton Water and the Solent. The values are on a dry weight basis and refer to whole organism soft tissues unless otherwise stated.Concentrations of mercury in algae ranged from 0·07 to 0·22 ppm and those in animal tissues from 0·06 to 1·9 ppm. The distribution of the element in various tissues ofMercenaria mercenariawas rather uniform, except that the concentration in the gills was about 2·5 times that in the whole organism. Variations amongst organisms from different parts of the Solent area and comparisons with other regions suggested some possible influences of local waste discharge, but there was no evidence of major effects. Anoxic muds contained higher concentrations of mercury than occurred in unreduced surface layers, suggesting mobility in interstitial waters of the uppermost zone and fixation under reducing conditions.