Title: Size-related trace metal bioaccumulation in Asiatic clams (Corbicula fluminea) from the Rio de la Plata estuary, Argentina

Authors: Claudio Bilos, Juan C. Colombo, Carlos N. Skorupka, Sandra O. Demichelis, Leandro M. Tatone

Addresses: Laboratorio de Quimica Ambiental y Biogeoquimica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Av. Calchaqui km 23.500 (1888) Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Laboratorio de Quimica Ambiental y Biogeoquimica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Av. Calchaqui km 23.500 (1888) Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Laboratorio de Quimica Ambiental y Biogeoquimica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Av. Calchaqui km 23.500 (1888) Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Laboratorio de Quimica Ambiental y Biogeoquimica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Av. Calchaqui km 23.500 (1888) Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Laboratorio de Quimica Ambiental y Biogeoquimica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Av. Calchaqui km 23.500 (1888) Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract: Asiatic clams from the Rio de la Plata estuary were classified in seven Shell Length (SL) classes (6.0 ≤ SL ≤ 41.0 mm) and analysed for metals to evaluate their bioaccumulation dynamics and characterise the significance of growth-related variability potentially interfering in clam monitoring programmes. Metal concentrations were rather homogeneous (Zn: 223 ± 64; Fe: 222 ± 87; Cu: 29 ± 5.5; Mn: 20 ± 5.5; Cr: 2.9 ± 1.1; Ni: 2.5 ± 0.9; Cd: 0.7 ± 0.3 µg g⁻¹). Regression analyses between metal concentrations and clam size, SL, soft tissues dry weight (BW) displayed different patterns: decreasing (Fe-Cd-Cr-Zn), independent (Mn-Ni) and increasing (Cu) concentrations with size, representing accumulation strategies from regulation to net accumulation. Covariance analyses of metal concentrations-SL/BW indicated no significant seasonal differences. Metal particulate phase speciation in the RLP, clam depuration and suspended particulate size-fractionation assays suggest that fine suspended particles are the prevailing clam metal mode of uptake.

Keywords: trace metals; Asiatic clams; bioaccumulation; biomonitoring; Rio de la Plata; environmental health; freshwater ecotoxicology; water pollution; Argentina.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2009.030110

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.390 - 409

Published online: 10 Dec 2009 *

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