In Situ Analysis of Gut Residue of Corophium Volutator (Pallas) by Electron Probe Microanalysis after Exposure to Barytes Spiked Sediments

Abstract

<em>Corophium volutator (Pallas) has been recommended by the paris Commission as one of the standard species for testing chemical used in offshore oil and gas exploration/production. In the present study, gut contents of Corophium volutator have been analysed by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) for BaSO₄ and other heavy metal impurities after exposure tto spiked sediments following a standard ASTM sediment bioassay protocol. Results show that depuration of Corophium gut for 48 h in clean filtered seawater after exposure to sediments containing barites, prior to whole body metal analysis, is required to reflect the true metal burdens</em>