Mytilus edulis planulatus: an integrator of cadmium pollution?

Mussels, Mytilus edulis planulatus , were collected from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, in February 1984, to test the assumption that they are "integrators" of cadmium pollution. Results suggest that, at least for cadmium, the assumption that mussels are "integrators" of pollution should be treated with caution. They also have implications with regard to the quantitative biological monitoring of pollution. For example, even in a carefully controlled monitoring program, using mussels of standard size and condition, significant differences in cadmium content between mussels need not indicate exposure to different levels of contamination. Rather, these differences could reflect differences in the regime by which the contamination was received.