Anoxic survival time and metabolic parameters as stress indices in sea mussels exposed to cadmium or polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract

Sea mussels,Mytilus edulis, were exposed to cadmium under laboratory and semi-field conditions and to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) under semi-field conditions. After various exposure times, the animals were subjected to environmental anoxia by aerial exposure. The anoxic survival time was significantly reduced by short-time laboratory or semi-field exposure to cadmium. The effect of PCBs on the anoxic survival time was apparent after six months. In addition, during long-term semi-field exposure to cadmium or PCBs, also other potential stress indices, such as the adenylate energy charge, condition indices, glycogen and metabolite contents, and cadmium-binding proteins were examined.