Abstract
The green mussel, Perna viridis, was used to measure bioaccumulated levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), together with various heavy metals, in the marine environment of Singapore. Samples were collected from eight different locations in the coastal waters of Singapore between April and May 2002. OCPs (i.e. DDT, Chlordane, Mirex, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and Heptachlor) were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Heavy metals (i.e. As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were quantified by induced coupled plasma spectrometry. The concentration ranged from 2.6 to 54 ng g-1 dw for DDTs (i.e. sum of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDE), 3.1 to 15 ng g-1 dw for Chlordanes (i.e. sum of α- and γ-chlordane) and 0.26 to 1.5 ng g-1 dw for Mirex. These levels can be considered low when compared to reported values from similar studies conducted elsewhere in the world. Other pesticides were not detected. All heavy metals analysed were detected in all P. viridis samples, but only Cu, Pb, Zn and As were close to existing safety standards. Samples taken from locations adjacent to the main shipyards on the coastline and busy shipping lanes demonstrated peak levels of heavy metals and pesticides in the mussel tissues.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
