Year of Publication
2024

Journal

Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
199
Date Published
Jan-02-2024
Number of Pages
116034
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116034
URL
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0025326X24000110
ISSN Number
0025326X
HCERES category
ACL - Articles in international or national peer-reviewed journals indexed by HCERES or in international databases
Abstract

Rare Earth Elements (REE) and several trace elements abundances in mussel's shells collected along the St. Lawrence River, the Estuary, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) reveal coherent chemical variations, with a sharp contrast between freshwater and seawater bivalves. In freshwater mussel's shells, Rare Earth Elements and Y (REY) patterns are rather flat. Their Mn and Ba concentrations are higher than those of EGSL mussel shells, which are much richer in Sr. Shale-normalized REY abundances in mussel's shells from the EGSL show positive anomalies in La and Y and well-marked negative anomalies in Ce, reflecting those of seawater. Prince Edward Island shells show light REE depletion relative to PAAS, positive La and Y anomalies, and negative Ce anomalies. Our data confirm the lack of detectable Gd pollution in the St. Lawrence River and in the EGSL, as well as Pb pollution at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord and near Rimouski.