STUDY ON LEVELS OF Zn, Pb AND Cd IN WATER AND MUSCULATURE OF MUSSEL ZEBRA (DREISSENA POLYMORPHA) IN OVCHARICA DAM, STARA ZAGORA REGION, BULGARIA

E. Valkova

Abstract: The levels of heavy metals Zn, Pb and Cd were determined in water and musculature by mussel “Zebra” Dreissena polymorpha from Ovcharica Dam, Stara Zagora region by means of atomic absorption spectrometry.
The individual samples of water and musculature were collected in August and November 2012 and January and March 2013.
High concentrations exceeding the MAC is observed on the heavy metal lead in the musculature samples of mussel “Zebra” delivered during August and November 2012 and January 2013, as the high¬est levels are reported in the month of January 2013 (2.3 mg / kg).
The established values of the elements zinc, lead and cadmium were significantly lower in the water of the studied waterbody compared with the musculature of Dreissena polymorpha.
Since the levels of these metals found in water shows the current condition of the hydroecosystem, more reliable biological indicator is the organism (the musculature) of investigated mussel kind.
Accumulating the highest levels of these elements in time, these mollusks could be used as an excellent indicator of pollution with the heavy metals.

Keywords: Dreissena polymorpha; heavy metals; MAC (maximum allowable concentrations); musculature; water; waterbody

Date published: 2017-04-18