The Marine Mussel Perna perna (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilidae) as an Indicator of Contamination by Heavy Metals in the Ubatuba Bay, SÃo Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Heavy metal levels were determined in marine mussels Perna perna collected from Ubatuba Bay, northern coast of the State of SaoPaulo, Brazil, during the period from January toOctober 1995. The objective of the present study wasto analyze the seasonal concentrations of some metalsof toxicological interest (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn) inUbatuba Bay using the bivalve Perna perna(Linnaeus, 1758) as a biological monitor. Collectionswere performed at three month intervals at Itaguabeach. In the laboratory, the frozen specimens werethawed at room temperature, removed from their shells,partially dried on filter paper, weighed andindividually submitted to acid digestion with sulfuricacid and hidrogen peroxide. The analyses for thedetection of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn were carried out byflame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The resultsshowed higher metal accumulation during July. Thevalues detected for Pb and Cr were relatively high inall seasons, especially in January and July (vacationperiods) in Ubatuba Bay, with the consequent risk ofcontamination by mussel ingestion for the localpopulation and for tourists from other regions.