Influence of sediment on heavy metal uptake by the polychaete Arenicola marina

Abstract

In this study, the suitability of the polychaete Arenicola marina as a test organism using clean intertidal sediment contaminated with copper, zinc and cadmium was evaluated. Metal levels in casts were significantly lower than in unworked sediment indicating that the bioturbatory activity of lugworms might be significant in the distribution of the pollutants. This study showed that sediments contaminated with specific pollutants affected the uptake of these pollutants by Arenicola in a predictable and dose-dependant way and gave further justification for the use of this species in sediment toxicity tests.