Organophosphates in the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha: Subacute Exposure, Body Burdens, and Organ Concentrations

Abstract.

Subacute exposures (10 d) of the freshwater mollusc Dreissena polymorpha to disulfoton (10 mg/L), thiometon (6 mg/L), and its activated oxygen analogue demeton-S-methyl (6 mg/L) corroborate earlier findings of organophosphate resistance and accumulation in the organism. Mortality occurred not before the ninth day of exposure. Mortality was induced at high ambient water concentrations and must be due to unknown specific organophosphate effects. Body burdens reached saturation levels within one week being around 40 mg/kg wet weight for thiometon and 60 mg/kg for disulfoton. Mussels dying during the tests showed lower tissue concentrations. Elimination of accumulated organophosphates was so low in the mussel, that an efficient metabolism of these compounds in the mussel was unlikely. Different organs of Dreissena previously acutely exposed (96 h) to the organophosphate thiometon (6, 12, 25, 50 mg/L) were analyzed for their thiometon content. Thiometon could be found in all organs, but were highest in the anterior part of the viscera (230 mg/kg), where it was accumulated either in the digestive gland and/or in the gonadal tissue.