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Water quality surrounding the mussel farm of Mytilus edulis chilensis at Brown Bay (Beagle Channel) was evaluated. The levels of five heavy metals in sediment and in gill and digestive gland of mussels were examined to consider potential risks to human health. Cd showed the highest enrichment factor in relation to its level in Earth crust (3.85-21.58), which could be related to an upwelling phenomenon. A seasonal trend was found regarding metal bioaccumulation, being higher in winter than in summer. The bioaccumulation pattern in gill was Zn>Fe>Cu>Cd, meanwhile in digestive gland was Fe>Zn>Cu>Cd. Despite Pb was measured in sediment (15.59-23.91 microg/g dw), it was not available for being incorporated by mussels. In all cases it was below the detection limit (2.37 microg/g dw). With regard to human consumption of mussels from Brown Bay, none of the elements analyzed should cause concern for consumers. Values measured in tissue mussels were below the limit of 10 microg/g dw for Cd and Pb established by SENASA for molluscs. Considering that studied mussels are for human consumption and the relatively high levels of metals in sediment may vary their availability if physical parameters changes, periodical monitoring must be carried out to avoid human risks and to produce food in a responsible manner that complies with the food safety standards., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mussels coming from a mussel farm at Brown Bay (Beagle Channel) were transplanted to four sites inside Ushuaia Bay for 2 and 4 weeks. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of coastal waters of Ushuaia Bay by measuring catalase activity, lipid peroxidation, total lipid content, bioaccumulation of heavy metals and condition index in transplanted mussel Mytilus edulis chilensis. Biomarkers except condition index showed significant differences among exposure times as well as among tissues. Digestive gland presented the highest catalase activity, malondialdehyde level and total lipid content. Digestive gland also was the main target tissue of accumulation of iron and copper, while gill accumulated the highest levels of zinc. A principal component analyzes with the whole set of data allowed to separate stations based on physicochemical conditions and biochemical responses of each studied area., ((c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)