title: Uptake and depuration of 63Ni by Mytilus edulis.
abstract: The uptake and depuration of Ni (as radioisotope 63Ni) by Mytilus edulis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) has been investigated in a laboratory mesocosm. Nickel was reversibly held on low energy surface sites of estuarine suspended particulate matter (SPM), with a partition coefficient of the order 10(3) ml g-1, resulting in approximately 80% of radioisotopic Ni being in the dissolved phase. Mussels were fed a diet of radio-labelled estuarine SPM for 30 h in a flow-through exposure period and for a further 24 h in a static exposure period. Following exposure, the mussels were allowed to depurate in particle-free seawater. Pseudofaeces and faeces were collected throughout the experiment and tissues were dissected after 48 h of depuration. The 63Ni activity in the faeces was approximately 50% of that in the feedstock SPM, while the activity in the tissues was 2-29% of SPM activity. Tissue-specific accumulation occurred in the order viscera > byssus > mantle > adductor muscle > gill > foot. The results are discussed in the context of the bioavailability of Ni to mussels.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Devon, UK.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Punt
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Millward
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D009532:Nickel / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D009532:Nickel