title: Sublethal effects of a chlorinated and heated effluent on the physiology of the mussel, Mytilus edulis L.: a reduction in fitness for survival?
abstract: Coastal power stations entrain large volumes of cooling water, requiring biocidal treatment to prevent biological fouling. Discharged effluent is both heated and contaminated with residual traces of biocide and so it is necessary to quantify the impacts of this discharge. Cooling water from Heysham 2 nuclear power station, NW England, UK, is discharged to the intertidal area, via a culvert (to minimise erosion and maximise dilution and dispersion by directing the effluent into the receiving water at all states of the tide) within which the effluent is contained at low water. The culvert and surrounding coastal area support a population of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Mussel health was determined along a gradient of exposure, using three physiological indices: Scope for Growth, Gonad Mantle Index and Somatic Condition Index (K Factor). The Mussels within the culvert exhibited reduced physiological index values compared to an external site. A trend was identified down the length of the culvert, representing a gradient of exposure and indicating a potential negative effect on growth and reproductive output.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK. Electronic address: k.mazik@hull.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Krysia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mazik
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hitchman
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quintino
authors.forename: Colin J L
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butterfield
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004739:England; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D054879:Halogenation; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
keywords: Chlorination; Macrofouling; Mytilus edulis; Scope for Growth; Somatic condition indices