The accumulation of heavy metals in marine organisms
Bouquegneau, J.-M.; Noël-Lambot, F.; Verthe, C.; Disteche, A. (1982). The accumulation of heavy metals in marine organisms, in: Disteche, A. et al. (Ed.) Geconcentreerde Onderzoeksacties Interuniversitaire Actie Oceanologie: eindverslag 2. Distribution, transport and fate of heavy metals in the Belgian coastal marine environment = Actions de Recherche Concertées Action Interuniversitaire Océanologie: rapport final 2. Distribution, transport and fate of heavy metals in the Belgian coastal marine environment. pp. 139-156
In: Disteche, A.; Elskens, I. (Ed.) (1982). Geconcentreerde Onderzoeksacties Interuniversitaire Actie Oceanologie: eindverslag 2. Distribution, transport and fate of heavy metals in the Belgian coastal marine environment = Actions de Recherche Concertées Action Interuniversitaire Océanologie: rapport final 2. Distribution, transport and fate of heavy metals in the Belgian coastal marine environment. Programmatie van het Wetenschapsbeleid: Brussel. 171 pp., more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Bouquegneau, J.-M., more
- Noël-Lambot, F.
- Verthe, C.
- Disteche, A.
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| Abstract |
The understanding of the heavy metal contamination of aquatic organisms is rather difficult because it depends not only on the nature and concentration of the pollutant, but also on many physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the ecosystem. Moreover a high concentration of metal present in an organism is not necessarily correlated with a high degree of pollution of the medium. Indeed, in contrast to the non-essential trace metals such as mercury and cadmium, the essential ones such as copper and zinc have important biological functions in the organisms and can therefore be found in important amounts in some of their organs in unpolluted as well as in polluted media.On another hand, several species are able to develop physiological mechanisms of storage, under a detoxified form, of heavy metals present in excess in the organism.So, from an ecotoxicological point of view, the occurrence of high heavy metal concentrations in marine organisms is to be carefully studied considering at one time environmental factors influencing their accumulation and toxicity, and at another time the physiology as well as the adaptive ability of an organism to stand unusual concentrations of trace metals in their environment. |
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