BaselineAn analysis of historical Mussel Watch Programme data from the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town

- Baseline publication of metals in mussels.
- Sampled from the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town.
- The data was sourced from the Mussel Watch Programme and ranged from 1985 to 2008.
- We found significant spatial and temporal changes in metal concentrations.
- Concentrations of Zn, Fe, Cd and Pb were higher than previous investigations.

The concentrations of metals in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) prevalent along the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town are presented. The mussels were sampled during the routine “Mussel Watch Programme” (MWP) between 1985 and 2008. Levels of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, Fe and Mn at Cape Point, Hout Bay, Sea Point, Milnerton and Bloubergstrand were analysed for autumn and spring and showed consistent similar mean values for the five sites. There was a highly significant temporal (annual and seasonal) difference between all metals as well as a significant difference in metal concentrations between the five sites. The concentrations of Zn, Fe, Cd and Pb were higher than previous investigations and possibly indicative of anthropogenic sources of metals. The results provide a strong motivation to increase efforts in marine pollution research in the area.