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Interactions between metals and their distribution in tissues of Littorina littorea (L.) collected from clean and polluted sites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2009

A. Z. Mason  and
K. Simkiss
A. Z. Mason
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 2AJ
K. Simkiss
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 2AJ
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Abstract

Specimens of Littorina littorea from unpolluted (Menai Bridge) and metal polluted (Restronguet Creek) sites have been analysed for ten metals in eight different tissues. The concentrations of metals in whole animals and in individual tissues have been subjected to linear correlation analysis to establish metal/metal and tissue/tissue interactions. The results indicate that copper and magnesium are accumulated independently by specific connective tissue cells. Group A metals are largely accumulated by the digestive gland whereas group B metals are concentrated by the kidney. At low levels of metals there may be competition for particular ligands but at higher levels of pollution new ligands may be induced in particular cells. The implications of these interactions are discussed in terms of cell physiology and related to the significance of the use of biological organisms as indicators of metal pollution.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 63 , Issue 3 , August 1983 , pp. 661 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1983

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