Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Chemical monitoring in the Dutch Wadden Sea by means of benthic invertebrates and fish

Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen volume 43, pages 435–446 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

In monitoring, it is of utmost importance to carefully define the purpose, the sampling strategy, as well as the analytical chemical and statistical requirements. Surveys are appropriate for describing the geographical variation in environmental contaminant levels. Repeated surveys and recurrentdata collection at permanent locations provide means of detecting temporal trends. Results are presented here of surveys on pollution by trace metals, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in the Ems Estuary and Dutch Wadden Sea usingMytilus edulis, Mya arenaria, Arenicoia marina, Nereis diversicolor andCrangon crangon as test organisms. Trends towards decreasing pollution by mercury are illustrated by monitoring data onMytilus edulis andZoarces viviparus. It is stressed that the results of chemical monitoring in organisms may be interpreted only in termser the biological effects on the basis of relevant toxicological knowledge and/or additional bio-assays.

Literature Cited

  • Adema, D. M. M., Swaaf-Mooy, S. I. de & Bais, P., 1972. Laboratory investigations concerning the influence of copper on mussels (Mytilus edulis). — TNO-Nieuws27, 482–487.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous, 1982. Guidelines to be followed for sample collection, preparation and analysis of fish and shellfish in the conduct of cooperative monitoring. — Coop. Res. Rep.117, Appendix.

  • Becker, P. H., 1989. Seabirds as monitor organisms of contaminants along the German North Sea coast. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.43, 395–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beukema, J. J. & Essink, K., 1986. Common pattern in the fluctuations of macrozoobenthic species living at different places on tidal flats in the Wadden Sea. — Hydrobiologia142, 199–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boon, J. P., 1985. Uptake, distribution, and elimination of selected PCB components of Clophen A40 in juvenile sole (Solea solea) and effects on growth. In: Marine biology of polar regions and effects of stress on marine organisms. Ed. by J. S. Gray & M. E. Christiansen, Wiley, Chichester 493–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boon, J. P. & Duinker, J. C., 1986. Monitoring of cyclic organochlorines in the marine environment. —Environ. Monit. Assess.7, 189–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cofino, W. P., 1989. Methodology of chemical monitoring in the marine environment. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.43, 295–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuff, W. & Coleman, N., 1979. Optimal survey design: lessons from a stratified random sample of macrobenthos. — J. Fish. Res. Bd Can.36, 351–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duinker, J. C., Hillebrand, M. T. J. & Boon, J. P., 1983. Organochlorines in benthic invertebrates and sediments from the Dutch Wadden Sea; identification of individual PCB components. — Neth. J. Sea Res.17, 19–38.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essink, K., 1980. Mercury pollution in the Ems estuary. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.33, 111–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Essink, K., 1985. Monitoring of mercury pollution in Dutch coastal waters by means of the teleostean fishZoarces viviparus. — Neth. J. Sea Res.19, 177–182.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essink, K., 1988. Decreasing mercury pollution in the Dutch Wadden Sea and Ems Estuary. — Mar. Pollut. Bull.19, 317–319.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essink, K. & Bos, A. H., 1985. Growth of three bivalve molluscs transplanted along the axis of the Ems Estuary. — Neth. J. Sea Res.19, 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Essink, K., Jagtman, E. & Ritsema, R., 1986. Usefulness of sediment and three benthic invertebrates as indicators of organochlorine pollution in an estuarine environment. — Rep. Rijkswaterstaat, Tidal Wat. Div. GroningenGWAO-86.157, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everaarts, J. M., 1986. Is monitoring of respiratory properties of the haemoglobin of the lugwormArenicola marina meaningful? — Environ. Monit. Assess.7, 273–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folkertsma, F., 1987. Review of programmes and measures for cadmium in The Netherlands.—Note. Rijkswaterstaat, Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment, Lelystad87. 106X 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaul, H. & Ziebarth, U., 1983. Method for the analysis of lipophilic compounds in water and results about the distribution of different organochlorine compounds in the North Sea.—Dt. hydrogr. Z.36, 191–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsson, A., Neuman, E. & Thoreson, G., 1986. The viviparous blenny as an indicator of environmental effects of harmful substances.—Ambio15, 236–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kock, W. C. de, 1983. Accumulation of cadmium and polychlorinated biphenyls byMytilus edulis L., transplanted from pristine water into pollution gradients.—Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci.40 (Suppl. 2), 282–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kock, W. C. de, 1986. Monitoring bio-available marine contaminants with mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) in the Netherlands.—Environ. Monit. Assess.7, 209–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kock, W. C. de & Kuiper, J., 1981. Possibilities for marine pollution research at the ecosystem level.—Chemosphere10, 575–603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, C. J. M., Boon, J. P., Duinker, J. C., Everaarts, J. M., Hillebrand, M. T. J., Nolting, R. F. & Vlies, E. M. van der, 1985. Contaminanten in de Waddenzee en een vergelijking met de omliggende gebieden. Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee. Texel 120 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meijers, E. M. J., 1986. Defining confusions—confusing definitions.—Environ. Monit. Assess.7, 157–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, J. B. & Despres-Patanjo, L., 1988. A review of monitoring strategies and assessments of estuarine pollution.—Aquat. Toxic.11, 323–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. J. H. & Segar, D. A., 1986. Use of bio-indicators in monitoring conservative contaminants: programme design imperatives.—Mar. Pollut. Bull17, 10–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pries, C., Kock, W. C. de & Marquenie, J. M. 1984. Specimen banks and the monitoring of surface water pollution by aquatic organisms. In: Environmental specimen banking and monitoring as related to banking Ed. by R. A. Lewis, N. Stein & C. W. Lewis. Nijhoff, Boston, 88–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reijnders, P. J. H., 1986. Reproductive failure in common seals feeding on fish from polluted coastal waters.—Nature, Lond.,324, 456–457.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Segar, D. A. & Stamman, E., 1986. Fundamentals of marine pollution monitoring programme design.—Mar. Pollut. Bull.17, 194–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, P. de, 1975. Mercury content of mussels from West European coasts.—Mar. Pollut. Bull.6, 61–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, P. de, Kock, W. C. de & Stam, A., 1972. Field experiments on the influence of copper and mercury in a natural mussel bed.—TNO-Nieuws27, 497–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zauke, G.-P., Meurs, H.-G., Todeskino, D., Kunze, S., Bäumer, H.-P. & Butte, W., 1987. Untersuchungen zur Verwendung von Bioindikatoren für die Umweltüberwachung im Ästuarbereich der Elbe, Weser und Ems. Teil 3. Zum Monitoring von Cadmium, Blei, Nickel, Kupfer und Zink in Balaniden (Cirripedia: Crustacea), Gammariden (Amphipoda: Crustacea) und Enteromorpha (Ulvales: Chlorophyta).—ForschBer. FKZ Wasser102 05 209, 1–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zauke, G.-P., Meurs, H.-G., Schrey, K. & Bäumer, H.-P., 1988. Influence of species, life-history status, and sampling techniques on Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn in estuarine gammarids.—Crustaceana (Suppl.)13, 283–285.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rijkswaterstaat, Tidal Waters Division, Ministry of Transport and Public Works, P. O. Box 207, 9750 AE, Haren, The Netherlands

    Karel Essink

Authors
  1. Karel Essink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Essink, K. Chemical monitoring in the Dutch Wadden Sea by means of benthic invertebrates and fish. Helgolander Meeresunters 43, 435–446 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02365902

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02365902

Keywords

Helgoland Marine Research

ISSN: 1438-3888

Contact us