Environmental monitoring and banking of marine pollutants by using common mussels.

Since 1985 the common mussel Mytulis edulis has been collected, characterized and stored within the framework of the German Environmental Specimen Bank program. Selected results about the determination of various pollutants such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons are presented. Particular emphasis is given to the comparison of seasonal variations with respect to different environmental contaminants and their correlations depending on sampling location and time.

Eel-pout (Zoarces viviparus L.) as a marine bioindicator.

Several elements and metal species were analyzed in eel-pout or viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus). The analytical data demonstrate that fish muscle is a suitable bioindicator for mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As). About 90% of the total Hg content is present in the fish muscle in the form of methyl mercury.

Particle size distribution in ground biological samples.

Modern trace and retrospective analysis of Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) samples require surplus material prepared and characterized as reference materials. Before the biological samples could be analyzed and stored for long periods at cryogenic temperatures, the materials have to be pre-crushed. As a second step, a milling and homogenization procedure has to follow.

Environmental specimen banking in Germany--present state and further challenges.

The program of the German Environmental Specimen Bank has been expanded recently and its current status is briefly described. Selected results which have been obtained during the long term permanent operation of this project since 1985 are presented. Moreover, further aspects of environmental data evaluation and assessment are discussed.

The Jülich Environmental Specimen Bank.

The environmental specimen bank of the Federal Republic of Germany represents the modern form of a systematically designed archive for the preservative storage of selected environmental specimens. Major aims of environmental specimen banks are: (i) retrospective identification and quantification of environmental chemicals including those not known at the time of storage; (ii) retrospective replicate analysis of samples stored under preservative conditions for the determination of inorganic elements or organic compounds already examined; and (iii) retrospective control of the success of legislative environmental protection measures in handling chemicals regarded as hazardous for man and the environment. Results of the environmental specimen bank at Jülich by the Institute of Applied Physical Chemistry, Research Centre Jülich, KFA, obtaining the initiated legislative regulations providing environmental pollution, are already proved for various compartments.