Guns, M.

Hoenig, M.

Van Hoeyweghen, P.

Vyncke, W.

Open Marine Archive

lZW0 
lnstrtuut voor Zeewetenschappelijk Ondenoek (vmI 
Ins!i!ute for Marine Soentikc Research 
VlCTORiALPZAN 3 - E-$400 OSSTENDE BELGIUM 
. ~ 4 .  t32-(0)53-321 5-Fax:t32-(0159-321135 Concentration of arsenic in 
blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) 
from the Belgian coast 
Vyncke W. Ministerie van Landbouw 
Bestuur voor Landbouwkundig Onderzoek 
Centrum voor Landbouwkundig Onderzoek - Gent 
Rijksstation voor Zeevisserij 
Ankerstraat 1 
B - 8400 Oostende 
Guns M. Ministerie van Landbouw 
Hoenig M. Bestuur voor Landbouwkundig Onderzoek 
Van Hoeyweghen P. Instituut voor Scheikundig ~ n d e r z o e k  
Leuvensesteenweg 17 
B - 3080 Tervuren 
V l a m  lnstituut voor do 
Random Mathe Wtuh 
UDC-nr 
' Keywords 
639.4 : 545 (493) 
Arsenic, mussels, Belgian coast 
Landbouwr~ldschnft Revue dc i'Agnculrure. 1992. Vol 45. no 4 
Summary 
In the period 1986-1991 mussels were collected each year (except 
1987) from three jetties along the Belgian coast. 
A positive regression between the length of the mussels and the 
arsenic concentration was found. In the western and middle parts of 
the coast, arsenic levels increased significantly during the past five 
years (up to 25 Oh per year). There was also a decreasing concentra- 
tion gradient from west to east. The reasons for these differences are 
not clear. 
On the other hand, arsenic concentrations recorded in the present 
work are in the same range as those reported in other areas i.e. 4.5 
to 12 mglkg dry weight and can be considered as normal. 
1. Introduction 
Many marine organisms contain appreciable 
amounts of arsenic in their tissues. The ma- 
jor arsenicals in fish and crustaceans have 
been shown to be water soluble organic 
compounds (especially arsenobetaine), which 
are much less toxic than the inorganic salts 
(Shinagawa et al., 1983; Kaise et al., 1985). 
A limited number of studies have also in- 
dicated the prevalence (at least 90 %) of 
organic arsenicals in bivalves, although it 
still remains largely to be elucidated in what 
form those filter-feeding organisms deriving 
nutrition largely from phytoplankton, contain 
their arsenic burden (GESAMP, 1988). In 
Japan, Mytilus edulis was found to'.contain 
only 0.5 % inorganic arsenic (Shiomi et al., 
1984). 
Blue mussels are considered to be good in- 
dicator organisms for environmental pollu- 
tion (Bryan, 1980; Szefer et al., 1985). 
Within the framework of the Belgian 
monitoring programme on trace con- 
taminants, the analysis of arsenic in fish and. 
shellfish was included from 1984 onwards. 
This paper reports results with mussels for 
the five years' period 1986-1991. Data on 
fish and shrimp for the period 1984-1988 
have already been published (De Clerck et 
al., 1990). 
2. Material and methods 
three jetties along the coast situated at 
Nieuwpoort (west), Oostende (middle) and 
Blankenberge (east). Samples were taken 
every year except in 1987. 
They were divided,into four length classes : 
20-29 mm, 30-39 mm, 40-49 mm and 50-59 
mm. From each category, 40 to 50 
specimens were taken. They were kept for 
24 hrs in running sea water to eliminate im- 
purities. The mussel flesh was removed from 
the shell, drained and homogenized. 
All samples were kept at -28OC until 
analysis. 
Table 1 reports the average dry matter con- 
tent of the samples. 
2.2. Determination of arsenic 
1 g of soft mussel tissue was placed into a 
high pressure teflon lined acid digestion 
bomb. Parr 4746. After the addition of 2 m1 
Table 1 Average dry matter content of blue 
mussels ('%) 
Oostende 22.1 27.9 29.3 26.6 . 26.5 
Sampling 
point 
Blankenberge 27.4 28.8 27 5 26.8 27.3 
2.1. Mussel samples 
Mussels were collected in September from ~ o t a l  average 26.0 28.6 27.3 25.9 25.6 
742 landbouwutjdrchnh - Revue de I'Agnculrurc. 1992. Vol 45. sr 4 
Nieuwpoort 27.6 29.1 25.2 24.4 23.1 
1986 i988 1989 1990 1991 
Table 2 Arsenic concentrations in blue mussel (mg/kg dry weight) 
Oostende 
Blankenberge 20-29 5.50 6.87 6.52 7.14 5.89 
30-39 5.33 6.15 8.19 7.02 6.21 
40-49 6.28 ' 6.55 7.31 8.46 6.08 
50-59 7.32 7.56 6.74 7.52 6.43 
Table 3 Time trend analysis of arsenic concentrations (a) 
Sampling point 
Nieuwpoon 20-29 4.55 6.29 7.90 10.21 11.67 
30-39- 4.91 7.03 8.86 10.48 10.54 
40-49 5.30 7.02 9.49 9.12 10.30 
50-59 5.60 6.41 10.13 10.66 10.48 
Length (mm) 
Oostende 0.642** 0.57** y = 0 . 5 7 ~  + 5.96 
- ~ 
Blankenberge N.S. N.S. - 
1990 1986 
Trend line 
equation (c) 
Sampling 
point (b) 
(a) * *  = significant at the 99 % level; 
***  = significant at the 99.9 % level; 
N.S. = not s~gnificant 
(b) n = 20 per sampling point 
(C) y = concentration of arsenic 
X = time in years 
1991 
Nieuwpoort 0.950*** 1.23*** y = 1 . 2 3 ~  + 4.94 
nitrib acid the bomb was heated in an oven 
at 150°C for 1 hour. After cooling, clear 
solutions were diluted with water to 10 ml. 
Arsenic was determined by atomic absorp- 
tion with graphite furnace, Zeeman 
background correction and Pd modifier 
(Hoenig et al., 1986). 
1988 
Correlation 
coefficient 
3. Results and discussion 
The arsenic concentrations per sampling 
point, per length interval and per year are 
reported in Table 2. Figure 1 shows the 
evolution of the average concentrations dur- 
ing the five years' period. 
A positive regression between the length and 
the arsenic content was found. The correla- 
tion coefficient for n = 60 was 0.224 and 
significant at the 95 % level. For this com- 
putation, all data were divided by the 
respective annual means to avoid the 
variability caused by the increase in concen- 
trations in time (see further). 
1989 
Slope 
In previous work a similar positive relation- 
ship was found for cadmium. This was not 
so for other trace metals (Vyncke et al., 
1988). 
Touche et al. (1982) also found that the 
tissue burden of arsenic in blue mussels 
from Oregon, U.S.A. correlated positively 
with size. 
The apparent increase in arsenic levels 
(Figure 1) in mussels from Nieuwpoort and 
Oostende was confirmed by - statistical time 
trend analysis. The significance of the cor- 
relation coefficient and of the slope (dif- 
ference-from 0) were also tested (Table 3).  
Blankenberge was not significantly different. 
However during the four years' period 
1986-1990, a significant increase was also 
observed there (r = 0.640** and slope = 
0.36***). The annual average increase was 
about 25 % for Nieuwpoort and 10 % for 
Oostende. 
Applying analysis of variance on the time - 
743 Lanawuwt~jdrchnfr - Revue de I'Agnculture, 1992. Vol. 45, no 4 
Figure 1 Evolution of avage arsenic concentrations in mussels collected at Nieuwpoort (N), 
Oostende (0) and Blankenberge (B) 
corrected data from the three sampling 
points (see above), a significant difference at 
the 95 % level was found, indicating a 
decreasing concentration gradient from west 
to east. 
Arsenic enters the marine environment 
mainly from the atmosphere, especially due 
to the burning of fossil fuels and the 
smelting of ores. More local inputs from 
rivers are caused by pesticide residues, liquid 
waste from metal foundries, and a variety of 
industrial and domestic sources such as i n -  
tifouling paints (GESAMP, 1988; ICES, 
1988b). 
Arsenic is present in sea water predominant- 
ly as arsenate. Marine biota in lower trophic 
level (bacteria, plankton) however can 
transform inorganic arsenicals into organic 
ones (GESAMP, 1988; ICES, 1988b). 
, Due to the relatively short distances between 
the sampling points (about 20 km), dif- 
ferences in atmospheric arsenic loads are 
unlikely to be the cause of the higher con- 
centrations westwards. It would thus be 
worthwhile to investigate the origin of the 
direct arsenic inputs to the marine environ- 
ment via the river Yser and/or the coastal 
industrial area) and the reasons for the 
significant increase in arsenic levels over the 
past five years. 
The arsenic concentrations recorded in the 
present work are in the same range as those 
reported in other areas. 
In the Ems-estuary and in the Western 
Scheldt, mean values of 5.0 and 6.6 mg/kg 
dry weight respectively were reported (Ak- 
kerman et al., 1990). 
In the Eastern Scheldt levels varied from 1.4 
to 4.6 mg/kg wet weight, with an average of 
2.5 mg/kg, corresponding to approximately 
10 mg/kg dry weight (Vos et al., 1986). 
In Japan blue mussels contained between 1.7 
and 3.1 with an average of 2.4 mg/kg wet 
weight, corresponding also to about 10 
mg/kg dry weight (Shiomi et al., 1984). 
During a baseline survey coordinated by 
ICES in 1985 in areas covering the Dutch 
coast, the sea areas around Denmark, several 
sites in the Baltic Sea and several locations 
in the U.S.A., arsenic concentrations ranged 
from 1.6 to 12.8 mg/kg dry weight with the 
median value at 4.0 mg/kg (ICES, 1988a). 
In a similar exercise, carried out in 1990, 
values in the Scheldt estuary and the Wad- 
waters west of Nieuwpoort (e.g. the Dunkirk den Sea-ranged from 3.8 to.13.6 mg/kg with 
744 Landboumgdschnft - Rewe de I'Agnculture, 1992, Vol 45. n" 4 
a median value of 8.6 mg/kg (ICES, un- average cod (Gadus morhua) and flounder 
published results). These levels do not pre- (Platichthys Jesus) contained twice as much 
sent a health hazard (GESAMP, 1988). arsenic and shrimp (Crangon crangon) three 
Finally, it should be stressed that the arsenic times the concentration in mussels. With 
levels found in mussels were markedly lower these species however, no clear time trend 
than those in fish and shrimp caught off the could be observed (De Clerck et al., 1990). 
Belgian coast in about the same period. On 
Conclusion. 
Arsenic levels in blue mussels from the Belgian coast increased over 
the past five years except in the eastern part. There was also an 
eastward decreasing gradient. The reasons for this situation are not 
clear. However, the range of concentrations can be considered as 
normal at the present time. 
References 
AKKERMAN, I., KERSTEN, H., VAN DER VALK, F. 
and DEINUM, G. 1990 Evaluation and interpreta- 
tion of the results of the Joint Monitoring Pro- 
gramme of the Netherlands 1990. Report No. 
G W O  91 of the Tidal Waters Division, Rijks- 
waterstaat, The Hague. 
BRYAN, G. 1980. Recent trends in research on 
heavy-metal contamination in the sea. Helgolander 
Meeresuntersuchungen, 33, 6-25. 
DE CLERCK, R., VYNCKE, W., GUNS, M. and 
VAN HOEYWEGHEN, P. 1990. Arsenic levels in 
cod, flounder and shrimp caught in Belgian coastal 
waters (1984-1988) Revue de 1'Agriculture - Land- 
bouwtijdschrift, 43, 289-296. 
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WNO/WHO/IAEA/ 
UN/UNEP Joint Group of experts on the Scientific 
Aspects of Marine Pollution) 1988. Arsenic, mer- 
, 
cury and selenium in the marine environment. 
UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies No. 92, 
United Nations Environment Programme. 
HOENIG, M. and VAN HOEYWEGHEN, P. 1986. 
Determination of selenium and arsenic in animal 
tissues with platform furnace atomic absorption 
spectrometry and deuterium background correc- 
tion. International Journal of Environmental 
Analytical Chemistry, 24, 193. 
ICES 1988a. Results of 1985 baseline study of 
contaminants in fish and shellfish. Cooperative 
Research Report No. 151. International Council for 
the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen. 
ICES 1988h. Report of the ICES Advisory Commit- 
tee on Marine Pollution, 1987. Cooperative 
Research Report No. 150. International Council for 
the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen. 
KAISE, T., WATANABE, S. and ITOH, K. 1985. 
The acute toxicity of arsenobetain. Chemosphere, 
14, 1327-1332. 
SHINAGAWA, A., SHIOMI, K., YAMANAKA, H. 
and KIKUCHI, T. 1983. Selective determination of 
inorganic arsenic (Ill), (V), and organic arsenic in 
marine organisms. Bulletin of the Japanese Society 
of Scientific Fisheries, 50, 293-297. 
SZEFER, P. and SZEFER, K. 1985. Occurrence of 
ten metals in Mytilus edulis L. and Cardium 
glaucum L. from the Gdansk Bay. Marine Pollution 
Bulletin, 16, 446-450. 
TOUCHE, Y. and MIX, M. 1982. Seasonal varia- 
tions of arsenic and other trace elements in bay 
mussels (Mytilus edulis). Bulletin of Environmental 
Contamination and Toxicology, 29, 665-670. 
VOS, G., HOVENS, J. and HAGEL, P. 1986. 
Chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, 
cadmium, mercury and lead in Dutch fishery pro- 
ducts 1977-1984. The Science of the Total En- 
vironment, 52, 25-40. 
Landbouwrlldrchnfi - Revue de I'Agnculrurc. 1992. Vol 45, n o  4 
VYNCKE, W., GUNS, M,, BAETEMAN, M. et VAN moules de la c6te belge (1982-1986). Revue de 
HOEYWEGHEN, P. 1988. La teneur en metaux l'Agriculture, 41, 721-727. 
lourds et en PCB (polychlorobiphenyls) des 
Samenvatting 
Arseenconcentraties in mosseh (Mytilus edulis) van de Belgische kwt 
In de periode 1986-1991 werden ieder jaar 
(uitgenomen in 1987) mosselen op drie 
strandhoofden langs de Belgische kust be- 
monsterd. 
Een positieve regressie tussen de lengte van 
de mosselen en het arseengehalte werd ge- 
vonden. In het Westelijke en Centraal ge- 
deelte van de kust stegen de arseenconcen- 
traties significant gedurende de afgelopen vijf 
jaren (tot 25 % per jaar). Een dalende con- 
centratiegradient van West naar Oost werd 
tevens vastgesteld. De redenen voor deze 
verschillen zijn niet duidelijk. Anderzijds 
waren de tijdens dit onderzoek waargeno- 
men arseengehalten van dezelfde grootte- 
orde als deze voor andere gebieden vermeld, 
nl. 4,5 tot 12 mg/kg droog gewicht en kun- 
nen als normaal worden beschouwd. 
Resume 
Concentrations d'arsenic dans les moules (Mytilws edulis) de la c6te belge 
Dans la periode 1986-1991 des moules ont 
ete recoltees chaque annee (excepte en 
1987) sur trois brise-lames L long de la cBte 
belge. 
Une regression positive entre la longueur des 
moules et le taux d'arsenic a ete trouvee. 
Dans les parties occidentale et centrale de la 
cbte, les concentrations d'arsenic ont aug- 
mente d'une maniere significative pendant 
les cinq demieres an'nees (jusqu'a 25 % par 
an). Un gradient de concentration diminuant 
d'ouest en est a egalement ete constate. Une 
explication de ce phenomene n'a pu Ctre 
trouvee. 
D'autre part, les niveaux d'arsenic observes 
dans la presente etude se situent,dans la 
mtme fourchette que celle rapportee pour 
d'autres regions, soit 4,5 a ,l2 mg/kg de 
poids sec. 11s peuvent Ctre consideres comme 
etant normaux. 
Landbouwu~drchnfr - Revue de I'Agnculrure. 1992, Vol 95, no 4 


Concentration of arsenic in blue mussels (<i>Mytilus edulis</i>) from the Belgian coast

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