In the late 1980s, we initiated a project to assess the levels and locations of toxic contaminants along the coast. The common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis , was selected as our primary tool to assess Maine's coastal water quality. Mussels have been successfully used around the region and world. Sampling mussels has an advantage over directly sampling seawater in that they filter large volumes of water each day and accumulate contaminants that may not otherwise be detected in the water. Also, water samples represent conditions at the exact time when the water was sampled.
Mussels integrate conditions over weeks and months.
Mussels are sedentary and therefore reflect local conditions making them suitable for detecting sources of contamination. They occur along the entire coast and are relatively easy to collect. Mussels have an advantage over sediment since they reflect levels of contaminants that are biologically available. And finally, as a food with considerable health benefits to people, by incorporating them into our monitoring program, the public is assured that the areas open to harvest are safe. Station Selection Considerations Stations are selected based on five primary factors.