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Heavy Metal Effects on the Metabolic Activity of Elliptio complanata: A Calorimetric Method
Author(s) -
Cheney Marcos A.,
Criddle Richard S.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1996.00472425002500020005x
Subject(s) - cadmium , respirometry , chemistry , calorimetry , metal , metal ions in aqueous solution , gill , mercury (programming language) , copper , respiratory quotient , environmental chemistry , isothermal microcalorimetry , nuclear chemistry , biochemistry , biology , enthalpy , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , computer science , thermodynamics , programming language
The effects of short time exposure to mercury (Hg 2+ ), cadmium (Cd 2+ ), and copper (Cu 2+ ) ions on the metabolic activity of gill tissue from the freshwater bivalve Elliptio complanata were investigated by isothermal calorimetry and respirometry. Metabolic heat rates were altered following exposure of gill tissue to these ions over the concentration range from 10 −6 to 10 −3 M . The effects of metal ions on metabolic heat rates were metal ion specific and time and concentration dependent. Treatment of tissue with low concentrations of Hg 2+ and Cu 2+ for short times caused stimulation of metabolic heat rates. Longer exposures and higher concentrations caused inhibition. Cadmium was inhibitory under all conditions tested. Treatment of mitochondria isolated from gill and muscle tissues showed a similar pattern of stimulation of respiratory rate at low concentration and inhibition at higher concentration. Analysis of CO 2 , and O 2 from the headspace gasses in the calorimeter ampule showed an enhancement of respiratory quotient (RQ, i.e., R CO 2 /R O 2 where R = rate) following addition of 10 −3 M Cd 2+ for 30 min. The microcalorimetric method proved to be a useful technique to assess toxicity of heavy metals on the gills of a freshwater bivalve.