Toxicity and Bioconcentration of Metals and Organic Compounds by Polychaeta

The effect of seven metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) and DDT, Arochlor 1254, and the water soluble fraction of diesel fuel was measured for a 96 hour period using the polychaetes Capitella capitata, Neanthes arenaceodentata, Nereis grubei, Ophryotrocha labronica and Pectinarla californiensis. Hg and Cu were the most toxic metals followed by Zn, As, Cd, Cr and Pb. The organic compounds were not lethal to these polychaetes at the highest obtainable concentration. While the 96 hour data were similar for all species, Capitella capitata was slightly more sensitive to the metallic toxicants. Bioconcentration was measured over a 20 day period for Capitella capitata, Neanthes arenaceodentata and Nereis grubei. These species all concentrated these toxicants in their tissue; the concentration factors were highest for the metals.