The responses of some estuarine organisms to heavy metals applied under various experimental conditions

The paper describes studies of the effects of copper, zinc, and cadmium on Hediste diversicolor, Crangon crangon and Macoma balthica under different conditions, emphasis is placed on the effects of the presence of sediments in the experimental conditions but also involving the following parameters, salinity, temperature and size of animals, 96 h LC sub(50), incipient lethal levels, body burdens, behaviour, cardiac and ventilatory activities were examined under various conditions. The significance of the presence of sediments in affecting the bioavailability of metals due to differences in the behaviour of the animals as well as for chemical reasons was examined. The implications of these studies with respect to academic as well as applied work on toxicity of metals was discussed.