Characterizing the effect of heavy metal contamination on marine mussels using metabolomics

► Marine mussels from metal-polluted and clean areas were investigated. ► NMR-based metabolomics was used to characterize heavy metal contamination. ► Metabolites related to heavy metal contamination in mussel were identified. ► Osmolytes and amino acids were more accumulated in heavy metal-contaminated mussels. ► Metabolomics can be used to study marine toxicology and to identify biomarkers.