The freshwater Mussel, Westralunio carteri Iredale, as a Biological monitor of Organochlorine Pesticides

Abstract

The freshwater mussel Westralunio carteri was tested as a biomonitor of the organochlorine pesticides dieldrin, DDE, DDD and DDT. The mussel survived handling, transportation and being caged, and demonstrated significant bioaccumulation of the pesticides. Total DDT analogues at one site reached a maximum of 0.48 mg kg-1 wet whole tissue after 112 days and at a second site accumulated to 1.23 mg kg-1 wet whole tissue after 66 days. It is suggested that observed reductions in levels of bioaccumulated residues by aestivating mussels in an intermittent stream were the result of preferential utilization of stored lipids and release of associated pesticides.