Accumulation and depuration of mercury and MeHg in the tissue of Chlamys farreri

Abstract:

Chlamys farreri was cultured in HgCl2 solution at different concentrations for 35 days, then transferred to natural sea water and be purified for 30days. Sampling was done at different time to detect total mercury and MeHg content in the tissue. Accumulation and purification of mercury and MeHg in the tissue was studied. The mercury solution was not toxic to the scallops when the concentration was lower than 2μg/L. Exposure concentration and accumulation of Hg in scallops showed a direct relationship.Kahle double-box model was used in the experiment design, and data was processed by hyperbolic toxicity kinetic model. The results showed that the accumulation and depuration of mercury and MeHg in the tissue of C. farreri was in line with the law of two-compartment kinetic model; total mercury accumulation in C. farreri showed the highest value at 35d, while the MeHg accumulation in C. farreri was delayed, and the highest peak was found at 40d. Comparing the biphasic kinetics parameters of mercury and MeHg accumulation and depuration in the tissue of C. farreri, it was found that the BCF of total mercury in the tissue of C. farreri was generally greater than the BCF of MeHg. The BCF and biological half-life of Hg ang MeHg in C. farreri correlated with exposure concentration.