Application of artificial mussels (AMs) under South African marine conditions: A validation study

► This is the first study to apply artificial devices as a monitoring tool for metal exposure in South African marine waters. ► This is the first study in 30 years to assess exposure of mussels to metals along the entire South African coastline. ► Correlations between the AM and P. perna were absent for certain metals but AMs detected all five metals analysed for. ► Metal uptake by AMs are affected by biofouling and turbulence caused by wave action. ► The ecological limitation of AMs is that they only reflect uptake of the dissolved metal and not particulate fractions.