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Using Asiatic Clams as a Biomonitor for Chrysotile Asbestos in Public Water Supplies
Author(s) -
Belanger Scott E.,
Cherry Donald S.,
Cairns John,
McGuire Michael J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1987.tb02817.x
Subject(s) - chrysotile , asbestos , bioconcentration , contamination , environmental science , environmental chemistry , toxicology , biology , chemistry , materials science , ecology , metallurgy
Comparisons of Asiatic clams ( Corbicula sp.) exposed to chrysotile asbestos in the laboratory and the field were undertaken in 1983 and 1984 to evaluate the usefulness of 30‐day laboratory exposures for predicting the accumulation of chrysotile by clams in the field. Clams exposed in the laboratory accumulated fibers that were shorter and had greater aspect ratios (length to width) than those found in water. In the field, fibers in clam tissues were approximately the same size as those found environmentally. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for asbestos were low in the laboratory (slightly greater than 1). In the field, however, viscera BCFs were as high as 100, and whole clam homogenates ranged from 1400 to 5000. These data are consistent with the theory that asbestos fibers are difficult to depurate. Corbicula is a good candidate for use as a biomonitor for chrysotile asbestos contamination.