Estuarine copper concentrations following boat-wash down and subsequent accumulation in blue mussels

Abstract

Antifouling paints may contain copper which prevents the attachment and growth of organisms on vessel hulls. In the study, estuarine copper concentrations and its dispersal are determined as well as whole-body copper burden of Mytilus edulis deployed at 8 sites in the estuary, following boat wash-down in Lymington estuary, United Kingdom. The copper concentrations half a meter away from a boat wash-down was quickly diluted within 4 h. But 24 h following a wash down, copper levels remained 10- to 20-fold elevated above the levels 30 m away from the source. Copper concentrations in the sediment half a meter from the point source were about 100-fold greater than within the marina but the marina sediment concentrations were still above the effect range low. Mortality of M. edulis was not observed, but copper body burden 24 h following a wash down event was up to tenfold elevated for 5 d before returning to normal within 21 d.