Relationships between the partitioning of lead in sediments and its accumulation in the marine mussel, Mytilus edulis near a lead smelter

Surficial sediment samples and specimens of the filter-feeding marine mussel, Mytilus edulis, were collected at thirteen sites near a Pb/Zn ore stockpile and smelting complex (Canada). Aside from measuring the total S content in the sediment samples, each of these samples were subjected to a sequential extraction procedure designed to determine the partitioning of Fe and Pb among various geochemical phases and compared with the Pb levels measured in the mussel tissues. About one third of the Fe and more than 90% of the Pb were extracted from the sediments. Sediments collected within Belledune Harbour generally yielded the greatest amount of Pb whereas the highest levels of S were measured in Dalhousie Harbour sediments. Regression analysis indicated that the total S content in the sediments played an important role in defining the Pb accumulation in the mussel tissues.