Mercenaria mercenaria as an environmental biomonitor of cadmium pollution

CHED 1058

Kellie McCartin, kmccartin814@hawks.rwu.edu, Veronica Ortiz, vortiz237@hawks.rwu.edu, and Stephen K. O'Shea, soshea@rwu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Roger Williams University, One Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI 02809
Cadmium (Cd) contamination of the aqueous environment is rapidly increasing as this element enters the food web and bioaccumulates into the higher trophic levels at a greater rate. This research investigated the comparative metal bioaccumulation efficiency in Mercenaria mercenaria (quahogs) between chelated Cd2+ complexes (Acetate, EDTA) and free hydrated Cd2+ ions from a saline environment. Total bioaccumulated Cd tissue concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentration of Cd in the gills, muscles, and feet were correlated to the concentration of the protein, metallothionein. Metallothionein activity is up-regulated even at low environmental concentrations of heavy metal exposure. At low concentration, levels of metal contamination are notably below instrumental detection limits; therefore it is easier to detect MT activity. The results of this research could possibly demonstrate the effective use MT activity in quahogs as biomonitors of heavy metal pollution.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008