A dynamic model of cadmium bioaccumulation in Lamellidens marginalis, an edible shellfish in India

Abstract

Mussels, as food is widely accepted by people around the world as it possesses good nutritive value. Along with the local fishes, a gradual increase in the market demand of the Lamellidens marginalis is observed in the eastern part of India. These mussels are collected from reservoirs by the local people for their daily requirements and usual business. The reservoirs receive the wastewater or sewage from the nearby tanneries and households. Consequently, people are prone to a high risk of cadmium pollution through the consumption of mussels. Thus, the study of the bioaccumulation of cadmium in the organs of mussel is felt be need of the hour.A dynamic model was constructed to observe the daily accumulation of cadmium in the different organs of mussel. The model was constructed in the STELLA 6.0 software, and a sensitivity analysis was performed followed by calibration and validation.The scenario analysis revealed that the bioaccumulation of cadmium in the gills was sensitive to the input rate of cadmium to the system. The retention of cadmium in the alimentary canal and the kidney was dependent on the excretion rate of mussels. Cadmium deposition in the muscles and hepatopancreas was strongly regulated by the transfer rate of cadmium from the alimentary canal and the depuration rate respectively. However, the cadmium bioaccumulation in the foot was dependent on the surface area of foot. The sensitivity analysis showed that the input rate of cadmium into the system was the system sensitive parameter. If the cadmium is checked at the entry point of the reservoir, then the mussels could be easily harvested by the local people, and there would be less risk of cadmium pollution to the human.