The International Mussel Watch 



in the environment. Thus, even though the newer pesticides may account for an increasing 

 proportion of pesticide use in certain regions of the world, the continued use of the more persistent 

 chlorinated pesticides such as DDT is of continuing concern. 



Furthermore, we cannot undertake simultaneous analyses for all possible chemicals of 

 environmental concern in the initial phases of the program. The target analytes have been carefully 

 chosen because of: 1) continuing concern with respect to their presence in the environment, 2) 

 previous extensive data bases of their distribution in coastal ecosystems, especially bivalves, in 

 several Northern Hemisphere countries, and 3) reasonably well established methods for analysis of 

 bivalve tissues. There is no doubt that there will be a need for expansion of the effort in the future 

 to include other analytes. 



The Mussel Watch Approach 



We propose that the most effective course of action initially to assess the global 

 environmental levels of halogenated hydrocarbon compounds is to conduct a (single-shot) 

 monitoring of sentinel organisms in the worlds coastal oceans. A "Mussel Watch" sampling and 

 analysis program can provide this required information (Goldberg, 1976). 



Our proposal is based on the utilization of sentinel organisms as an approach for 

 monitoring the concentrations of selected pollutants, and as an indicator of their bioavailability and 

 concentration in the biosphere. Several types of marine bivalves, especially mussels and oysters, 

 have been found useful as indicator organisms, due to their worldwide distribution and ubiquitous 

 abundance, their general ability to bioconcentrate most pollutants, and their sedentary habits 

 (Farrington et al., 1983; NRC, 1980; Phillips, 1980; INFERMER, 1983; Topping, 1983; US- 

 NOAA, 1987, ICES, 1988). 



Regional "Mussel Watch" monitoring programs have been carried out in North America 

 and the North Atlantic, resulting in identificarion of zones of high levels of contamination as well 

 as areas of low levels, which can serve as reference areas. Experience in sampling, analysis, 

 preservation and evaluation from these studies have been taken into account for the present 

 program design and will provide a springboard for the implementation of this proposed program. 



In 1980, an international gathering of scientists in Barcelona, Spain (NRC, 1980; 

 Appendix A), assessed the state of knowledge using bivalves as sentinel organisms for chemical 

 contamination in coastal areas based mainly on results from localized, within country regional, and 

 national efforts. They recommended planning begin for an International Mussel Watch effort, 

 including a further assessment of the state of knowledge. A second gathering of international 



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