Development of Minamata Convention Initial Assessments
Other Studies on Mercury Contamination (cont'd)
.
Astudillo et al. (2005): The study focused on heavy metals concentrations
in oysters, green mussels and sediments from the Gulf of Paria. It was
found that mercury in sediments at all sites in Trinidad and Venezuela
exceeded United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Guidelines and Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines. The findings of the
study suggested that mussels may be better biological indicators of heavy
metal pollution in sediments. The study also mentioned that the elevated
concentrations of mercury in sediments from the Gulf of Paria and
Northern Venezuela may be due to run-off from gold mining operations in
the Orinoco River watershed.
Astudillo et al. (2002): Heavy metal concentrations were monitored in
edible soft tissues of shellfish (green mussel and oysters) from Trinidad
and Venezuela. It was found that the highest mercury concentrations in
oysters were from Chaguaramas but did not exceed the maximum
permissible limit for human consumption.
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