The Marine Mussel Perna perna (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilidae) as an Indicator of Contamination by Heavy Metals in the Ubatuba Bay, SÃo Paulo, Brazil

摘要: Heavy metal levels were determined in marine mussels Perna perna collected from Ubatuba Bay, northern coast of the State SaoPaulo, Brazil, during period January toOctober 1995. The objective present study wasto analyze seasonal concentrations some metalsof toxicological interest (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn) inUbatuba Bay using bivalve perna(Linnaeus, 1758) as a biological monitor. Collectionswere performed at three month intervals Itaguabeach. In laboratory, frozen specimens werethawed room temperature, removed their shells,partially dried on filter paper, weighed andindividually submitted to acid digestion with sulfuricacid hidrogen peroxide. analyses for thedetection Cd, Zn carried out byflame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. resultsshowed higher accumulation July. Thevalues detected Cr relatively high inall seasons, especially July (vacationperiods) consequent risk ofcontamination by mussel ingestion localpopulation tourists other regions.