Measurements of oxygen consumption in Mytilus edulis during exposure to, and recovery from, high sublethal concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene and phenol.

1. The rate of oxygen consumption has been monitored continuously in M. edulis during acute exposure to high sublethal concentrations of formaldehyde, phenol and benzene and subsequent recovery periods of 96 hr. 2. The results are discussed in relation to changes in the electrochemical potential difference of sodium, the content of ATP and the tissue concentration of strombine. 3. After exposure to benzene and phenol, an increase in the rate of oxygen consumption that could not be explained by oxygen debt from the exposure period was observed. 4. Depression of the rate of oxygen consumption after exposure to formaldehyde may be explained by a reduced ability to extract oxygen from the water. 5. The pattern of oxygen consumption and behavioural responses, as well as the combined changes in the biochemical markers, were distinctly different in the three cases.