Trends in chemical concentrations in mussels and oysters collected along the US coast: Update to 2003

With data from the annual analyses of mussels and oysters collected in 1986–1993 from sites located throughout the coastal United States [O’Connor, T.P., 1996. Trends in chemical concentrations in mussels and oysters collected along the US coast from 1986 to 1993. Mar. Environ. Res. 41, 183–200] showed decreasing trends, on a national scale, for chemicals whose use has been banned or has greatly decreased and that concentrations of most other chemicals were neither increasing nor decreasing. With data through 2003 those conclusions still apply. National median concentrations of synthetic organic chemicals and cadmium continue to decrease. The added data show that concentrations of lindane and high molecular weight PAHs are also decreasing on a national scale. For metals other than cadmium and zinc (in mussels), the added data reveal trends at more sites than in 1993 but no additional national trends. However, the longer time series has revealed several local and regional trends.