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Table 2 Comparison of seasonal and long-term variations in metal burdens (given as ng g−1 wet weight and dry weight) of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the North Sea sampling site Koenigshafen

From: Seasonal variability in metal and metalloid burdens of mussels: using data from the German Environmental Specimen Bank to evaluate implications for long-term mussel monitoring programs

Koenigshafen

Months of annual minimum conc.

Months of annual maximum conc.

Annual range (ng g−1) ww/dw

Range over 17 years (ng g−1) ww/dw

Cobalt

Dec.–Feb.

Apr.–Aug.

57.9/798

27.8/478

Copper

Oct.–Feb. (except 2013)

April

261/1953

296/1984

Cadmium

No clear seasonality, n.c.

26.5/611

28.3/723

Nickel

Aug.–Oct.

June

133/1872

86.2/1469

Lead

Oct.

April

50.4/996

88.7/1487

Mercury

Aug.–Oct.

Dec.–April

10.6/127

8.73/132

Methylmercury

June–Aug.

Oct.–April

5.41/46.7

4.99/33.2

Arsenic

June–Oct.

Dec.–April

975/9538

1062/9830

Selenium

Aug.–Oct.

Dec.–April

276/2003

194/1095

Tributyltin

Aug.–Dec.

April

1.81/20.6

1.04/16.6