Mussels (mytilus sp.) as an indicator of lead pollution.

The lead contents of two species of mussels (Mytilus californianus and M. edulis) collected along the Pacific coast from Piedras Blancas, California to Punta Banda, Baja California were determined by isotope dilution method. The whole soft parts of the mussels, on a dry weight basis, contained from 0.27 to 42 ppm of lead, which can be related to their local habitats. The gill tissues of the mussels showed the highest lead concentration.