Measurement of environmental trace-metal levels with transplanted mussels and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT): a comparison of techniques

Transplanted mussels and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were used to assess levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc at four sites situated inside and outside of two enclosed marinas, near Melbourne, Australia. Mussels accumulated all metals except cadmium. Over one year, there were large temporal differences in tissue metal levels in mussels, but differences between sites were only apparent for copper and lead. DGT showed temporal differences of the same kind as those seen in the mussels, but appeared to have more power to discriminate between sites. DGT found higher copper levels inside marinas than outside, and high levels of zinc were found inside one marina. Levels of copper and zinc were high enough to be of environmental concern for one site. The effect of fouling on DGT measurements will have to be quantified, or avoided by the use of multiple short-term exposures, if the technique is to become a widespread in situ monitoring tool.